Ben Smith has been presented with the Helen Rollason Award at the 2016 BBC Sports Personality of the Year Awards. Ben ran 401 marathons in 401 days in order to raise awareness about bullying. His 401 Challenge has raised over £310k for anti-bullying charities, and he has inspired thousands of people, including the school children that he visited at 101 schools.
Niki’s Story: “You Know Your Body Better Than Anyone, Listen To It” Meet Niki Niki, an inspiring woman, a mother, a partner, and a Helen Rollason Cancer Charity client. Niki wants to make a difference; she wants to share her story, empower women to stand their ground, feel confident, and not be dismissed. Listening to Her Body During 2020, the year of the pandemic, after self-examination Niki found a lump. She was promptly sent to
Elaine is 79 and lives in Witham with her husband Simon. She was diagnosed with cancer in 2023 and came to our Centre for the first time when she finished her treatment. For Elaine, HRCC has truly been a lifeline. This is her story. How HRCC Has Helped Helen Rollason Cancer Charity has helped me so much. It’s not easy to put into words the difference it has made to my life. They help me
A Decade of Ride For Helen – and a Personal Milestone Graeme’s story In 2024 Graeme joined Helen Rollason Cancer Charity’s cycle ride – the popular ‘Ride For Helen’ which was in its 10th year. At the age of 50, Graeme cycled 50 miles in 3 hours and 41 minutes and raised over £2,800 for the charity. Each year hundreds of cyclists join Ride For Helen and pedal through the Essex countryside raising money for
I worked as a urologist with a special interest in cancer until my retirement in 2016. The patient journey with a new cancer is now often long and complex. Many need help to live their best life after treatment. Simple survival and the absence of cancer is not enough, feeling well and whole again is the goal. Social and psychological support makes all the difference. I am happy to help Helen’s charity to deliver that.
I have retired following a career at a senior management level in a range of sectors specialising in Human Resources, Project Management, Coaching and Mentoring skills. In addition since 2000 I have undertaken a number of voluntary Trustee roles for a range of organisations.
Through my desire to give back to a Charity that my mother personally benefitted from by utilising Complementary Therapies, I have for a couple of years volunteered for Helen Rollason Cancer Charity in the Retail Team and more recently this has inspired me to take up the role of Trustee so that I can contribute to the governance of HRCC in continuing to deliver vital services that benefit the community.
I have always wanted to give something back following a corporate career in business development for technical services within the automotive industry.
I joined HRCC as a trustee to offer support and guidance to the very capable management team. It is nice to share my experiences and It is rewarding to see the team grow and deliver such important services.
I have been involved with HRCC for 15 years, initially through providing corporate sponsorship for fundraising events and then as a member of the Board, acting as Chair between 2020 and 2024.
With over 25 years’ experience as a Company Director in the Tech sector, I aim to bring my expertise in strategy, governance and digital transformation to support the charity in striving towards Helen’s vision of making good quality of life while coping with cancer available to everyone.
I have worked in the IT industry for over 14 years and before that, was a long-term retail manager so I have a broad range of experience to contribute to my trustee role, across the operations and retail areas. I am a husband and father of two and having lived in Chelmsford for many years, I really appreciate the opportunity to work with an excellent local charity.
My family has a deep connection with the charity as my wife, Kerry works in the Hatfield Peverel Centre and one of the family, who previously used the services, now volunteers. We’ve also been known to jump on bikes and get involved as we’ve all taken part in the Ride For Helen event over the years.
I am one of the newer trustees but I’m looking forward to contributing to the Charity’s purpose and goals.