Hilltop Hoods partner with CanTeen to bring smiles and music to youth affected by cancer

Music helped Hilltop Hoods Dan Smith overcome the worst thing any parent can be faced with — cancer.

Hilltop Hoods have partnered with CanTeen to launch Side of Stage initiative where Young people affected by cancer to be offered free access to Australia’s best concerts and festivals. Picture: Quentin Jones

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Music helped Hilltop Hoods Dan Smith overcome the worst thing any parent could be faced with — cancer.

In 2013, his son Liam was diagnosed with Leukaemia.

At 14, he is now living cancer free.

To help other young people, whether they are facing their own diagnosis or a family members, Smith and the Australian hip hop group teamed up with CanTeen to create ‘Side of Stage’.

The initiative will give young people, aged 12 to 25 free access to live gigs, festivals and exclusive performances across the country.

Liam was hospitalised for six months with intensive chemotherapy and Smith lived in the hospital with him for majority of that time.

Hilltop Hoods have partnered with CanTeen to launch Side of Stage initiative where Young people affected by cancer to be offered free access to Australia’s best concerts and festivals. Picture: Quentin Jones

As a therapy, Smith spent his time writing the song ‘Through the Dark’.

“Google got on board and we made an interactive film clip,” Smith said.

“The idea behind the film clip is that people would go on the journey of the cancer experience.

“But we wanted it to have a longer lasting effect, which is where the idea of Side of Stage came in.

Dan Smith felt inspired to help other young people affected by cancer after his son was diagnosed at 8-years-old. Picture: Tim Hunter.

“Google were good enough to donate one dollar for the first 50,000 views to CanTeen to help us start ‘Side of Stage’.

Earlier today, Canteen and Hilltop Hoods celebrated the launch of their initiative at the CanTeen HQ in Newtown.

Hilltop Hoods pictured at the launch of the ‘Side of Stage’ initiative. Picture: Quentin Jones

“Music is such a strong and powerful tool,” Smith said.

“It allows us to heal, to laugh and to love again.

“We just want to be able to give kids a break from the monotony and the hardships of going through that cancer journey, to see some live music.”

Smith said kids shouldn’t miss out on that part of their life because they are unwell.

CanTeen CEO Peter Orchard couldn’t agree more, and said ‘Side of Stage’ will give young people whose lives have been impacted by cancer, “the opportunity to step outside of the cancer experience, that often takes over their world,” he said.

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“I just think music is really pivotal for young people, it’s part of them shaping themselves.

“It gives them messages of hope, inspiration and this incredible sense of energy.”

He said anyone aged 12 to 25 that is dealing with a cancer experience can visit their website, search through the artists and put their name down for tickets.

“Maybe you’ll get the best music experience of your life,” he said.

For more visit canteen.org.au