Roger Daltrey of The Who visited Greenville for dedication of Teen Cancer America center

Roger Daltrey, lead singer of the storied rock band The Who, visited Greenville Tuesday for the dedication of a cancer center designed especially for young people.

Daltrey, co-founder of Teen Cancer America along with The Who's Pete Townshend, was en route to Atlanta with his band when he diverted the plane to Greenville to stop by Bon Secours St. Francis Health System to help dedicate its Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Center, officials said.

Daltrey met with patients and celebrated their victories over cancer, all while taking dozens of selfies with them, sharing jokes and shaking hands all around.

Patients Hudson Bethea, who is battling leukemia, and Nichole Dorontich, who beat Hodgkin's lymphoma, were thrilled to spend time with the rock legend, who was clearly just as happy to have a chat with them.

Bethea said he and Daltrey chatted about their favorite sport - soccer, while Dorontich, who is just in her 20s, was as excited as her dad to meet the rock legend. 

"It was super cool," said Bethea, who's now a big fan of The Who's music. "He's a big time soccer fan like me."

Daltrey said that coming to the new center was "a dream come true."

When he first got involved in the teen cancer effort in England some 30 years ago, he said, teen patients were in hospital rooms beside one another and never knew the other was there, unable to provide any support for each other. 

"To see what you've done here," he told the crowd gathered for the event, "it's truly amazing." 

As he entered the new unit, the anthem for Teen Cancer America - The Who's hit 'Let My Love Open the Door' - played in the background.

And before he left, Daltrey posed with a gleaming white electric guitar he'd signed that was on display and will forever mark his part in the effort to establish the unit, which is billed as the first Teen Cancer America center in the Carolinas.

The unit is specifically for cancer patients between 15 to 40 who can feel awkward in pediatric cancer programs, which are typically for young children, or in programs that typically care for much older adults.

Teen Cancer America works with hospitals across the country to open centers designed to offer young patients encouragement and community in colorful spaces equipped with accoutrements they enjoy, such as musical instruments and board games. 

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Dr. Hal Crosswell, director of St. Francis’ Adolescent and Young Adult cancer program, has said that research shows dedicated support services and space improves the outcomes and quality of life for this age group.

“When you see it first hand," he has said, "you become a believer very quickly.”

TCA hopes a standardized approach to care along with more clinical trials will result in better therapies and outcomes, because the survival rate in this age group for similar cancer types is worse than in the pediatric and adult populations, Crosswell has said.

The center, which includes four patient rooms, a nurse’s station, an open concept lounge with kitchen and an exercise area, was made possible by a $320,000 gift from First Citizens Bank and Teen Cancer America, as well as a gift from Dr. Joseph O. Hawkins, a cancer survivor, and his family.  

First Citizens also produced ads to raise awareness that feature Daltrey's new version of "Let My Love Open the Door," recorded especially for Teen Cancer America's campaign.

To learn more, go to https://bit.ly/1lMDObw, teencanceramerica.org and use #LetMyLoveOpenTheDoor.