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Our Founder

Lisa Wallis BEM 1982-2021

Lisa founded ChemoHero in 2014 after having treatment for breast cancer at the age of 30. Lisa loved spreading the word about her charity and her mission to support people at the start of their chemotherapy journey. In 2017 Lisa was the winner of the ITV Good Morning Britain Healthstar award, in 2019 she won the Pride of Britain fundraiser award for the South West region and in 2020 her work was recognised in the Queen's new years honours list where she was awarded the British Empire Medal for her voluntary work. Sadly Lisa passed away in August 2021 from her cancer. She has left a legacy that will continue to support those people starting their chemotherapy treatment for a very long time. .

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Our Team

Team

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Trustee

NICOLA BADDICK

Nicola has been involved in ChemoHero since 2019 after the firm of solicitors that she works at chose to support ChemoHero as their "Charity of the Year". Nicola is a Solicitor and has worked at the same firm in Bideford since joining them as a trainee Solicitor in 2008. After attending a few ChemoHero events, Nicola was asked to become a Trustee and was delighted to be asked join the team. Nicola enjoys attending our fundraising and awareness events, and can often be seen running in her ChemoHero tshirt. Nicola says the best thing about being a Trustee is getting to hear what a difference receiving a ChemoHero box makes to patients.

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Trustee

LAURA DAVIES

Laura joined the trustee team in 2019. Having been friends with Lisa for 34 years she was keen to support her in any way she could and decided to join the board of trustees that year to help carry Lisa’s ideas forward. Laura has worked in Rexel, an electrical wholesaler for the last 10 years. With this she brings her organisational skills, her ability to order stock and her fantastic communication skills.  Laura will be found at every meeting, any box packing night she can and you will find her at just about every fundraising event happening within ChemoHero.  Laura is full of ideas and loves to work alongside her fellow trustees to plan new and exciting fundraising events and celebrations.

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Trustee

SARAH DOWSON

Sarah has been a trustee for the charity since March 2021. Sarah has worked for many years as a Registered Nurse in our local hospital in various areas but mainly within cancer services as a Clinical Nurse Specialist. Sarah also runs her own holistic therapy business and previously worked as a Reiki therapist in cancer services providing Reiki for patients, families and staff caring for them whilst undergoing chemotherapy or during an inpatient stay and in The Fern Cancer & Wellbeing Centre based at the hospital in Barnstaple. Sarah heard Lisa talk about ChemoHero a few years ago,  and was blown away by her passion and honesty.  Sarah has seen first hand how patients faces light up on receiving their box of kindness and is honoured to be involved with this fabulous charity.

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Trustee

JO DOWN

Jo has been a Trustee of ChemoHero since 2019.  Her association with the charity came about through the charity’s founders, Lisa and Rob, when they all worked for the local further education college.  Jo is a HR professional who works as the HR Leader for a local multi-academy trust and she supports the board of Trustees with HR advice, business knowledge and experience and the love of helping people.  Jo said that the best thing about being a Trustee of ChemoHero is the humbling and heartwarming stories from chemotherapy patients who receive a box of kindness.

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Trustee

ZOE SMITH

Zoe is a serving Police Officer and a keen runner, she has completed multiple marathons and ultra-marathons. In her spare time, she has organised some of the most popular races in Devon including the Barnstaple Marathon.  Zoe started working with the charity through the events that she planned and was inspired by the enthusiasm and energy of Chemohero volunteers. She became a trustee in 2021 because she wanted to be involved in making the charity sustainable for the future. She is looking to bring her keen analytic mind, her sense of fun and her planning skills to the charity.

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Trustee

LUCY WARNER

Lucy works for RDUH as a Young Workforce Facilitator, attracting people to forge a career in the NHS. Her involvement with ChemoHero started with volunteering at events and getting a group of friends together to plant sunflowers for patients, & box packing. She did not hesitate to say yes when Lisa asked her to become more involved in the charity. Having been inspired by Lisa, Lucy is proud to be a part of the ChemoHero Trustee team to keep Lisa's legacy thriving and developing.

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Trustee

DEBORAH MILES

Deborah is a freelance Management Accountant who joined the team in January 2023 to primarily help us with our financial accounts.  In February 2021 Deborah became a recipient of a ChemoHero Box of Kindness at the beginning of her treatment for Breast Cancer.  It is very important to her that other people receiving Chemotherapy have a Box of Kindness and feel the love and support that comes from all the ChemoHero team and Supporters.

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Trustee

HEIDI RILEY

Heidi works for Nike, with experience in business and team management. Her passion for ChemoHero began 3 years ago after listening to a presentation from Lisa and being inspired by the charity’s work. Heidi has since enjoyed supporting the charity and volunteering at various events and is incredibly honoured and excited to be joining the trustee team. 

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Trustee

JUSTIN BECKLEY

Justin was so moved by his own experience of receiving a “Box of Kindness” from ChemoHero in 2019, (and for the exemplary & selfless work Lisa had done in the community, while battling her own diagnosis), he was keen to become more involved. Stepping down as Chairman of the North Devon Road Runners, where he also acted as a Race Director and Webmaster, Justin now wants to dedicate his time to the continuation of Lisa’s legacy. Justin is currently undergoing treatment for metastasis of his original cancer. His background includes many years in senior roles with FMCG, Health & leisure, Cosmetics and Financial Services companies. In recent years, he has had his own businesses, involved in Leisure & Tourism and Media, Photography & Production. For fun, Justin has run many 1000’s of miles, travelled widely, loves deeply, laughs loudly and continues to use his music degree to perform in local bands.

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Operations Manager

ROB WALLIS

Rob has been a member of the ChemoHero team since its inception in 2014. After Lisa finished her first round of treatment for breast cancer, he supported her to help make her vision become a reality. Serving as the ChemoHero Operations Manager, he has a very varied role, including stock management, social media, fundraising, volunteer coordination, marketing, and delivering boxes of kindness. He also ensures that Lisa’s legacy continues to provide essential support to individuals at the start of their cancer treatment.

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PAUL BUTLER

ChemoHero Cancer Care Counsellor

I was initially drawn to Counselling as I worked for a period of around 35 years working with individuals with Physical and Mental Health challenges. As I did so I began to appreciate that it was often the feelings, relationships and emotional adjustment that were the most difficult areas to address. This led me to train in Counselling.

Prior to being fortunate enough to being recruited to work in the ChemoHero Cancer Care Counsellor role I had taken the opportunity to develop my skills as a Counsellor in Mental Health, Bereavement, and supporting Health/Social Care/ Education Staff during the pandemic.

It was with some apprehension that I approached the role as the ChemoHero Cancer Care Counsellor having had no experience in this area although having lost family members to cancer. I have however found that the fundamental skills of Person Centred Counselling including accepting, valuing, honesty transparency and empathy have been the best foundation of my work.

Over the last year I have had the privilege of working with 75 clients during the course of around 350 hours. This work I have found remarkably fulfilling and feel privileged to continue in this role.

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