“Cancer floored me…. My friends had to fundraise just to keep me in my home” — Celebrities and people with cancer share their experiences in intimate shoot with acclaimed photographer, Rankin
Macmillan Cancer Support has released a series of stunning portraits of celebrities and people affected by cancer to mark the return of Coffee Morning. The photographs — shot by photographer Rankin — bring to life the importance of connection through shared experience.
Macmillan Cancer Support has released a series of stunning portraits of celebrities and people affected by cancer to mark the return of Coffee Morning. The photographs — shot by photographer Rankin — bring to life the importance of connection through shared experience.
The series brings together renowned news reporter and journalist George Alagiah, star of stage and screen Sheridan Smith, podcast host and cancer campaigner Lauren Mahon, and Chewing Gum and This is Going to Hurt actor Kadiff Kirwan, all of whom have been personally affected by cancer, to meet real people facing similar experiences.
The intimate conversations captured through the images saw the pairings relive moments of their own diagnosis; grieve the loss of loved ones; share experiences of Macmillan support they’ve received; and discuss how to navigate life after cancer. With as many as 1 in 2 people expected to be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime[1], it has never been more important to come together and encourage open conversations about the huge impact cancer can have.
George and Mary
Speaking openly about the impact of his own experience of living with stage four bowel cancer, which was first diagnosed in 2014 and subsequently spread to his lymph nodes and lungs, news presenter and journalist George Alagiah says:
“People always ask me how I cope and it’s the hardest question… The challenge at first was getting my cancer diagnosis straight in my head; despite having so much going for me, a successful career and a loving family, here I was just being told I was dying. I wish I had known sooner just how much support Macmillan could have offered me throughout this whole experience, but I thought I had to be at the end of my life to ask for it.”
Personal trainer Mary Huckle, a mother of three from London, was also diagnosed with stage four cancer in the same year as George. Mary recalls her own diagnosis and feelings of being vulnerable and out of control:
“One of the worst things about a cancer diagnosis was having to break the news to my loved ones. The ripple effects are always far reaching and just as traumatic for them. Many lonely, sleepless nights ensued. There was lots of crying, and that wasn’t just me, but there was no time to speculate. I just had to accept the situation and crack on with the process. In those early days, I felt vulnerable and completely out of control, but I had no choice but to place my trust in the medical team looking after me.”
“People always ask me how I cope and it’s the hardest question… The challenge at first was getting my cancer diagnosis straight in my head; despite having so much going for me, a successful career and a loving family, here I was just being told I was dying. I wish I had known sooner just how much support Macmillan could have offered me throughout this whole experience, but I thought I had to be at the end of my life to ask for it.”
Personal trainer Mary Huckle, a mother of three from London, was also diagnosed with stage four cancer in the same year as George. Mary recalls her own diagnosis and feelings of being vulnerable and out of control:
“One of the worst things about a cancer diagnosis was having to break the news to my loved ones. The ripple effects are always far reaching and just as traumatic for them. Many lonely, sleepless nights ensued. There was lots of crying, and that wasn’t just me, but there was no time to speculate. I just had to accept the situation and crack on with the process. In those early days, I felt vulnerable and completely out of control, but I had no choice but to place my trust in the medical team looking after me.”
Sheridan and Suad
Actor Sheridan Smith met with Manchester-based nurse Suad Ibrahim, who comes from a close-knit family of nine siblings and also lost her father to cancer. Macmillan was able to grant Suad’s father his final wish:
“My father was an incredibly strong-minded and proud man and was quite reluctant to seek any kind of support when he first received his diagnosis. However, his relationship with his Macmillan nurse Sarah was unlike any other I’d seen.”
“He shared things with her about his health and final wishes that he found too difficult to share with us. When my father passed away, his wish was to be buried on the day of his passing, to honour his Muslim faith. Sarah, our amazing GP, and the rest of the healthcare professionals who looked after my father were able to grant him this final wish. Our family will forever be grateful for this. We cannot thank Macmillan enough and all the people who helped care for and support my father and all of us during one of the most difficult times in our lives.
After losing loved ones to cancer, Sheridan Smith has backed Macmillan’s Coffee Morning event for several years:
“Connecting with others who have been touched by cancer can really help you to feel less alone. Macmillan’s Coffee Morning is the perfect space to do that — but whatever your reason for getting involved, you’ll be helping to support the growing numbers of people living with cancer across the UK, who need our support more than ever before.”
“My father was an incredibly strong-minded and proud man and was quite reluctant to seek any kind of support when he first received his diagnosis. However, his relationship with his Macmillan nurse Sarah was unlike any other I’d seen.”
“He shared things with her about his health and final wishes that he found too difficult to share with us. When my father passed away, his wish was to be buried on the day of his passing, to honour his Muslim faith. Sarah, our amazing GP, and the rest of the healthcare professionals who looked after my father were able to grant him this final wish. Our family will forever be grateful for this. We cannot thank Macmillan enough and all the people who helped care for and support my father and all of us during one of the most difficult times in our lives.
After losing loved ones to cancer, Sheridan Smith has backed Macmillan’s Coffee Morning event for several years:
“Connecting with others who have been touched by cancer can really help you to feel less alone. Macmillan’s Coffee Morning is the perfect space to do that — but whatever your reason for getting involved, you’ll be helping to support the growing numbers of people living with cancer across the UK, who need our support more than ever before.”
Lauren and Shell
Award-winning podcaster, campaigner and Founder of charity Girl vs Cancer Lauren Mahon, met with twenty-three-year-old Shell Rowe, a filmmaker and TikTok star from Essex. The pair bonded over their shared experience of receiving a cancer diagnosis at a young age, with Lauren being diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of thirty-one and Shell receiving a diagnosis of non-Hodgkin lymphoma when she was just twenty years old. Both received support from Macmillan throughout their cancer treatment. [Quotes in Notes to Editors]
Kadiff and Chloe
This is Going to Hurt and Fleabag actor, Kadiff Kirwan, lost his mother to cancer in May 2022. He spoke to former primary school teacher and Founder of the Cancer in Common community, Chloe Dixon, who was diagnosed with Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia in 2018, about the importance of support at every stage of a cancer diagnosis. Mum-of-one Chloe has just received the news two weeks ago that her cancer is no longer detectable. [Quotes in Notes to Editors]
Macmillan Coffee Morning returns
The series of thought-provoking photographs has been released today to mark the return of Macmillan’s annual flagship fundraising event, Coffee Morning, which takes place on Friday 30th September.
Macmillan is urging the public to sign-up to host a Coffee Morning and bring people together to raise vital funds, after the iconic event saw a huge drop in fundraising over the last two years as a result of the pandemic.
Claire Rowney, Executive Director of Fundraising, Marketing & Innovation at Macmillan Cancer Support says: “This year, the vital funds raised through Coffee Morning will be more important than ever. The number of people living with cancer in the UK is unprecedented and with figures set to grow to four million by 2030, our services are becoming a vital lifeline for many. We rely on the generous donations from our incredible supporters for 98% of our income and, as it stands, we’re simply not able to support everybody who needs us.”
“A cancer diagnosis can be incredibly frightening and for many people with cancer, times are tougher now than they have ever been, with ongoing disruption to care and treatment, the rising cost of living, and everything else a diagnosis brings. Macmillan offers a much-needed safety net for people when they simply don’t know where to turn.”
“A Coffee Morning is a brilliant way to connect with friends and family, while raising money that will help us continue to do whatever it takes to be there for those who have never needed us more.”
Coffee Morning is back on Friday 30th September, but people can sign up to host a Coffee Morning and get involved whenever, wherever and in whatever way they can throughout the month of September.
Whatever your reason to host a Coffee Morning, it’s a great one — sign up now to get started.
For more information, visit Macmillan Coffee Morning.
Kadiff and Chloe
This is Going to Hurt and Fleabag actor, Kadiff Kirwan, lost his mother to cancer in May 2022. He spoke to former primary school teacher and Founder of the Cancer in Common community, Chloe Dixon, who was diagnosed with Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia in 2018, about the importance of support at every stage of a cancer diagnosis. Mum-of-one Chloe has just received the news two weeks ago that her cancer is no longer detectable. [Quotes in Notes to Editors]
Macmillan Coffee Morning returns
The series of thought-provoking photographs has been released today to mark the return of Macmillan’s annual flagship fundraising event, Coffee Morning, which takes place on Friday 30th September.
Macmillan is urging the public to sign-up to host a Coffee Morning and bring people together to raise vital funds, after the iconic event saw a huge drop in fundraising over the last two years as a result of the pandemic.
Claire Rowney, Executive Director of Fundraising, Marketing & Innovation at Macmillan Cancer Support says: “This year, the vital funds raised through Coffee Morning will be more important than ever. The number of people living with cancer in the UK is unprecedented and with figures set to grow to four million by 2030, our services are becoming a vital lifeline for many. We rely on the generous donations from our incredible supporters for 98% of our income and, as it stands, we’re simply not able to support everybody who needs us.”
“A cancer diagnosis can be incredibly frightening and for many people with cancer, times are tougher now than they have ever been, with ongoing disruption to care and treatment, the rising cost of living, and everything else a diagnosis brings. Macmillan offers a much-needed safety net for people when they simply don’t know where to turn.”
“A Coffee Morning is a brilliant way to connect with friends and family, while raising money that will help us continue to do whatever it takes to be there for those who have never needed us more.”
Coffee Morning is back on Friday 30th September, but people can sign up to host a Coffee Morning and get involved whenever, wherever and in whatever way they can throughout the month of September.
Whatever your reason to host a Coffee Morning, it’s a great one — sign up now to get started.
For more information, visit Macmillan Coffee Morning.
For further information, please contact:
Macmillan Press OfficeTelephone: 020 7840 7821 Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.
Out of hours mobile: 07801 307 068.
Email: media@macmillan.org.uk.
Quotes from celebrities and guests are as follows:
George Alagiah, news presenter and journalist said:
“People always ask me how I cope and it’s the hardest question… The challenge at first was getting my cancer diagnosis straight in my head; despite having so much going for me, a successful career and a loving family, here I was just being told I was dying.”
“I wish I had known sooner just how much support Macmillan could have offered me throughout this whole experience, but I thought I had to be at the end of my life to ask for it.”
Personal trainer Mary Huckle, a mother of three from London said:
“For years I’d always self-examined. One day I found a small pea-sized lump in my right breast. Night after night, I’d lie in bed to check if it was still there, deliberating for a few weeks as to whether I should see my GP. What was stopping me? Of course, it was the fear of being diagnosed with breast cancer. Obviously now, my advice to anyone would be to get anything that’s not normal checked out immediately, even if the thought is terrifying. Early detection could be key to a better prognosis and less invasive treatment.
“One of the worst things about a cancer diagnosis was having to break the news to my loved ones. The ripple effects are always far reaching and just as traumatic for them. Many lonely, sleepless nights ensued. There was lots of crying, and that wasn’t just me, but there was no time to speculate. I just had to accept the situation and crack on with the process. In those early days I felt vulnerable and completely out of control, but I had no choice but to place my trust in the medical team looking after me.”
TV and theatre actor Sheridan Smith said:
“Connecting with others who have been touched by cancer can really help you to feel less alone. Macmillan’s Coffee Morning is the perfect space to do that — but whatever your reason for getting involved, you’ll be helping to support the growing numbers of people living with cancer across the UK, who need our support more than ever before.”
Manchester-based nurse Suad Ibrahim, who comes from a close-knit family of nine siblings and who lost her father to cancer said:
“My father was an incredibly strong-minded and proud man and was quite reluctant to seek any kind of support when he first received his diagnosis. However, his relationship with his Macmillan nurse Sarah was unlike any other I’d seen.”
“He shared things with her about his health and final wishes that he found too difficult to share with us. When my father passed away, his wish was to be buried on the day of his passing, to honour his Muslim faith. Sarah, our amazing GP, and the rest of the healthcare professionals who looked after my father were able to grant him this final wish. Our family will forever be grateful for this. We cannot thank Macmillan enough and all the people who helped care for and support my father and all of us during one of the most difficult times in our lives.”
Kadiff Kirwan, This is Going to Hurt and Fleabag actor said:
“Everybody has been affected by cancer in some way, and I know first-hand just how incredibly painful that can be. Having friends & family to lean on has been so important — I would be lost without them. Macmillan also provides vital support to anyone affected by cancer; they’re just a phone call away, so please don’t hesitate to reach out to them if you need to. And, if you can, host a Coffee Morning so that Macmillan can continue providing this life-changing support to more people who are diagnosed with cancer in the years to come.”
Former primary school teacher, Founder of the Cancer in Common community and mum-of-one Chloe Dixon, who received news just two weeks ago that her cancer is no longer detectable, said:
“My family were the ones who encouraged me to visit my GP, just a few months after I’d had my little girl. They were in my ear telling me, ‘hang on, this isn’t right’, and I dread to think where I’d be without them. During my bone marrow biopsy, I had a Macmillan nurse with me holding my hand. I’m absolutely over the moon that there’s no sign of my cancer and even more excited to give back to this wonderful charity once I’ve hosted my Coffee Morning. It’s the nicest day, getting all your loved ones and community together to have a cup of tea, a slice of cake and a catch up for a good cause.”
Award-winning podcaster, campaigner and founder of charity Girl vs Cancer Lauren Mahon, shares the financial impact her cancer diagnosis had on her life at the age of 31:
“When I got diagnosed, one thing that completely floored me was money. For some reason I thought — which I think is quite normal — that I would be looked after, that there’d be Government funding, or support I could apply for. I didn’t realise it would be statutory sick pay. I’d moved out my parents’ house before I received my diagnosis and I couldn’t even afford to pay my rent in London — my friends had to fundraise just to keep me in my home.
“Thank goodness I found Macmillan. The support was incredible. I literally went through the website, spoke to someone on the phone about the financial help I was entitled to, and then I was sent forms for a grant already filled in ready to go.”
Shell Rowe, a twenty-three year old filmmaker and TikTok star from Essex said:
“I was first diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma in 2019 when I was 20 and had just finished my second year at university. I was meant to be going to California State University to have my year abroad, which was all very exciting. Then a week before I was meant to go, I found a tennis ball-sized lump in my throat. Me and my friends were all joking about it, but a week later we weren’t laughing anymore, because I got stuck with a stage four cancer diagnosis. Since then, it’s been an absolute rollercoaster. I’ve had cancer four times now and been through seven different treatments including (CAR) T-cell therapy, radiotherapy, stem cell transplant, and a clinical trial.
“Even now I only know a handful of people, maybe two or three, who went to my school who’ve had cancer. Sometimes it feels really limiting, finding other people to speak to about having stage four cancer at a young age”.
George Alagiah, news presenter and journalist said:
“People always ask me how I cope and it’s the hardest question… The challenge at first was getting my cancer diagnosis straight in my head; despite having so much going for me, a successful career and a loving family, here I was just being told I was dying.”
“I wish I had known sooner just how much support Macmillan could have offered me throughout this whole experience, but I thought I had to be at the end of my life to ask for it.”
Personal trainer Mary Huckle, a mother of three from London said:
“For years I’d always self-examined. One day I found a small pea-sized lump in my right breast. Night after night, I’d lie in bed to check if it was still there, deliberating for a few weeks as to whether I should see my GP. What was stopping me? Of course, it was the fear of being diagnosed with breast cancer. Obviously now, my advice to anyone would be to get anything that’s not normal checked out immediately, even if the thought is terrifying. Early detection could be key to a better prognosis and less invasive treatment.
“One of the worst things about a cancer diagnosis was having to break the news to my loved ones. The ripple effects are always far reaching and just as traumatic for them. Many lonely, sleepless nights ensued. There was lots of crying, and that wasn’t just me, but there was no time to speculate. I just had to accept the situation and crack on with the process. In those early days I felt vulnerable and completely out of control, but I had no choice but to place my trust in the medical team looking after me.”
TV and theatre actor Sheridan Smith said:
“Connecting with others who have been touched by cancer can really help you to feel less alone. Macmillan’s Coffee Morning is the perfect space to do that — but whatever your reason for getting involved, you’ll be helping to support the growing numbers of people living with cancer across the UK, who need our support more than ever before.”
Manchester-based nurse Suad Ibrahim, who comes from a close-knit family of nine siblings and who lost her father to cancer said:
“My father was an incredibly strong-minded and proud man and was quite reluctant to seek any kind of support when he first received his diagnosis. However, his relationship with his Macmillan nurse Sarah was unlike any other I’d seen.”
“He shared things with her about his health and final wishes that he found too difficult to share with us. When my father passed away, his wish was to be buried on the day of his passing, to honour his Muslim faith. Sarah, our amazing GP, and the rest of the healthcare professionals who looked after my father were able to grant him this final wish. Our family will forever be grateful for this. We cannot thank Macmillan enough and all the people who helped care for and support my father and all of us during one of the most difficult times in our lives.”
Kadiff Kirwan, This is Going to Hurt and Fleabag actor said:
“Everybody has been affected by cancer in some way, and I know first-hand just how incredibly painful that can be. Having friends & family to lean on has been so important — I would be lost without them. Macmillan also provides vital support to anyone affected by cancer; they’re just a phone call away, so please don’t hesitate to reach out to them if you need to. And, if you can, host a Coffee Morning so that Macmillan can continue providing this life-changing support to more people who are diagnosed with cancer in the years to come.”
Former primary school teacher, Founder of the Cancer in Common community and mum-of-one Chloe Dixon, who received news just two weeks ago that her cancer is no longer detectable, said:
“My family were the ones who encouraged me to visit my GP, just a few months after I’d had my little girl. They were in my ear telling me, ‘hang on, this isn’t right’, and I dread to think where I’d be without them. During my bone marrow biopsy, I had a Macmillan nurse with me holding my hand. I’m absolutely over the moon that there’s no sign of my cancer and even more excited to give back to this wonderful charity once I’ve hosted my Coffee Morning. It’s the nicest day, getting all your loved ones and community together to have a cup of tea, a slice of cake and a catch up for a good cause.”
Award-winning podcaster, campaigner and founder of charity Girl vs Cancer Lauren Mahon, shares the financial impact her cancer diagnosis had on her life at the age of 31:
“When I got diagnosed, one thing that completely floored me was money. For some reason I thought — which I think is quite normal — that I would be looked after, that there’d be Government funding, or support I could apply for. I didn’t realise it would be statutory sick pay. I’d moved out my parents’ house before I received my diagnosis and I couldn’t even afford to pay my rent in London — my friends had to fundraise just to keep me in my home.
“Thank goodness I found Macmillan. The support was incredible. I literally went through the website, spoke to someone on the phone about the financial help I was entitled to, and then I was sent forms for a grant already filled in ready to go.”
Shell Rowe, a twenty-three year old filmmaker and TikTok star from Essex said:
“I was first diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma in 2019 when I was 20 and had just finished my second year at university. I was meant to be going to California State University to have my year abroad, which was all very exciting. Then a week before I was meant to go, I found a tennis ball-sized lump in my throat. Me and my friends were all joking about it, but a week later we weren’t laughing anymore, because I got stuck with a stage four cancer diagnosis. Since then, it’s been an absolute rollercoaster. I’ve had cancer four times now and been through seven different treatments including (CAR) T-cell therapy, radiotherapy, stem cell transplant, and a clinical trial.
“Even now I only know a handful of people, maybe two or three, who went to my school who’ve had cancer. Sometimes it feels really limiting, finding other people to speak to about having stage four cancer at a young age”.
About Macmillan Cancer Support
At Macmillan, we give people with cancer everything we’ve got. If you’re diagnosed, your worries are our worries. We will move mountains to help you live life as fully as you can.
And we don’t stop there. We’re going all out to find ever better ways to help people with cancer, helping to bring forward the day when everyone gets life-transforming support from day one.
[1] Research suggests that almost one in two people will receive a diagnosis of cancer at some point in their lives. Source: Macmillan Cancer Support. Cancer mortality trends: 1992–2020. https://www.macmillan.org.uk/documents/aboutus/newsroom/mortality-trends-2013-executive-summary-final.pdf Published 2013; accessed August 2022