Three Londoners, whose lives have forever been changed by cancer, have taken part in a moving photoshoot with the acclaimed celebrity photographer Rankin.
Nadio from Chiswick, Pam from Southall, and Nadia from Walthamstow mingled with stars of stage and screen at the shoot, that marks the return of Macmillan’s annual Coffee Morning on Friday 27th September. In 2023, generous Londoners donated over £1.5million at Macmillan Coffee Mornings across the capital[i].
Alongside Nadio, Pam and Nadia, the striking series of portraits brings together renowned television broadcaster Charlene White, singer and actress Brenda Edwards, TV personality Jake Quickenden and BBC and ITV presenter Julia Bradbury, all of whom have been personally affected by cancer.
Featured celebrities:
Television broadcaster Charlene White who lost her mother to bowel cancer
BBC and ITV presenter Julia Bradbury who was diagnosed with breast cancer
TV Personality Jake Quickenden who lost both his brother and father to cancer
Singer and actress Brenda Edwards who was diagnosed with breast cancer
The three Londoners who participated in the Rankin photoshoot explained their motivations for getting involved and supporting Macmillan.
After finishing treatment for stage 3 throat cancer, Nadio Granata (60) from Chiswick, is now supporting his partner Claire who has been diagnosed with stage 4 bowel cancer.
He said: “It’s fair to say I was looking forward to moving on from cancer when Claire’s diagnosis smacked us both in the face. But you know what, you just have to deal with it. And she’s a star. I’m not her ‘carer’, more like her ‘distraction’! She calls me her, ‘Beautifully Bonkers Boyfriend’. I’ll take that!”
“We treat every day as a new day.
But it’s true to say, we are nervous. Plan B has not yet been discussed, but we are increasingly aware we might need one. And that’s where knowing we have Macmillan to
call on is, once again, beautifully reassuring”.
Two years after receiving emergency surgery for a collapsed lung, Pam Judge (44) from Southall in West London, was diagnosed with breast cancer. While receiving treatment, she also had to cope with the loss of her father.
She said: “My treatment without Macmillan Cancer Support would have been
very different. Any time I needed anything they were at the end of the phone, whenever I went to pick up meds or needed blood tests done, they would make the time for me
and I always knew they were there. Had they not been there I think it would’ve been more stressful as I would’ve had to find things out for myself and not had someone there to rely on.”
After her diagnosis, Pam hosted a Coffee Morning and raised over £4,000.
Pam added: “People should host a Coffee Morning because
it’s so much fun. It’s an opportunity to raise funds for such an amazing charity. If anything else, it’s a great excuse to get everyone together, have a cup of coffee and
just enjoy yourself.”
Nadia (52) from Walthamstow, lost her 24-year-old son Hashim very suddenly to testicular cancer just six weeks after he was diagnosed.
Hashim started chemotherapy immediately and was initially responding well. Always the life and soul of the party, he even signed up to host a Macmillan Coffee Morning as a way of thanking the Macmillan nurses who were supporting him.
Nadia said: “He always had such a positive outlook on life. Hashim was even happy to be losing
his hair, because this must mean the chemo is working. He was looking forward to getting back to work. We got assigned a Macmillan nurse and do you know what, they’re the best nurses you can ever have. The support they gave us through the treatment was above
and beyond.”
However on the sixth week of treatment, he contracted a severe form of sepsis and despite 30 hours on life support, his organs failed and he peacefully passed away exactly six weeks after the initial cancer diagnosis.
The family went ahead with the
Macmillan coffee morning last year which was held in memory of their son and raised over £5,000.
Nadia said: “Our family is channelling grief into action by raising awareness about this silent
killer. A Macmillan Coffee Morning can help raise awareness. You know, it doesn’t matter if you raise £5 or £5000. At the end of the day, every penny counts.”
Last year’s Coffee Morning raised over £18 million UK-wide, which could fund more than 260 Macmillan nurses for a year.[ii]
Cancer can disrupt every part of peoples’ lives. Every Coffee Morning held around the UK will raise vital funds to help Macmillan to support everyone with a cancer diagnosis to get the care that they need, whoever and wherever they are. The photographs – shot by photographer Rankin – bring to life the importance of coming together to share experiences.
On average someone is diagnosed with cancer in the UK at least every 90 seconds[iii] and there are more than 3 million people living with cancer in the UK, which is set to rise to 4 million by 2030[iv]. To add to the challenge, 2023 was one of the worst years on record for cancer treatment delays in the NHS across the UK[v] and the impact of the cost-of-living crisis on the physical health of people with cancer has increased to its highest level since Macmillan first started tracking it[vi].
All this means the need for Macmillan’s support services has never been greater and it’s even more important to raise vital funds for people living with cancer.
World famous photographer Rankin says: “This project is very close to my heart. I lost my mum to lung cancer so know first-hand how cancer can turn someone’s world upside down, including their loved ones. These photos highlight the resilience of people living with cancer and the incredible work Macmillan do in supporting people after their diagnosis.”
The series of thought-provoking photographs has been released today to mark the return of Macmillan’s annual flagship fundraising event, Macmillan Coffee Morning, which takes place on Friday 27th September.
Macmillan is urging the public to sign-up to host a Coffee Morning and bring people together to make a difference for people living with cancer.
Claire Spencer, Marketing Manager at Macmillan Cancer Support says: “The countdown to Coffee Morning is officially on, and it’s always so fantastic to see so many people get involved. Whether it’s a chai afternoon, a ‘barks and bakes’ dog walk or a kitchen disco in the office, people can host their Coffee Morning anyway and anywhere they want.”
She continued: “Cancer can disrupt every part of peoples’ lives. Every Coffee Morning held around the UK will raise vital funds to help Macmillan to support everyone with a cancer diagnosis to get the care that they need, whoever and wherever they are.”
Whichever way you do it, let’s do Coffee Morning on 27 September – sign up now to get started.
