meet the team

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Meet the team

The Mesothelioma UK and Charitable Trust have five members in the team, a Consultant Nurse, a Helpline Assistant/PA, a Fundraising and Marketing Manager an Operational Manager and an Apprentice.

Liz Darlison Consultant Nurse

Liz trained at Charles Frears School of Nursing in Leicester qualifying in 1986. Since 1992 she has been based within the cardio-respiratory directorate of the University Hospitals of Leicester at the Glenfield Hospital site. Liz was a ward sister/manager in respiratory for several years and in June 2000 she took up the post of Respiratory Nurse Specialist (Lung Cancer). Liz's interests within lung cancer have always focused on developing the nursing contribution, within the multidisciplinary team, to improve patient and carer experience across the whole cancer pathway. To meet demand locally and nationally Liz developed an interest in Mesothelioma which resulted in the establishment of Mesothelioma UK, the National Macmillan Mesothelioma Resource Centre. Liz is currently a Consultant Nurse leading the development of Mesothelioma UK. In 2007 Liz was awarded the Nursing Times Cancer Nurse Leader of the Year Award sponsored by the Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust. Liz is the former chair (until January 2011) of the National Lung Cancer Forum for Nurses and represents nursing on a variety of national and professional committees. Liz's love of the outdoors has meant that she has recently taken up golf and loves to take part in competitions..

Tracey Heseltine Helpline Assistant/PA

Tracey is the Helpline Assistant for Mesothelioma UK and is normally the first point of contact. She is also PA to Nurse Consultant, Liz Darlison. Tracey first took up the role in September 2004 soon after Mesothelioma UK was formed. Tracey has a background in administration and worked for National Nuclear Corporation as a proof reader for several years. She also worked for a tour operator. She returned to work after having two children and has volunteered for two Leicester cancer charities. Tracey has recently taken up camping and for the first time this year set up camp in Dorset and Devon and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. She hopes to continue her outdoor experiences next year and maybe a little further afield, perhaps across the Channel.

Jill Lemon Fundraising and Marketing Manager

Jill is the Fundraising and Marketing Manager for the Mesothelioma UK Charitable Trust. Jill's background is in administration, she joined Glenfield Hospital in 1995 on the Cardiac Surgery wards having been in a management position in a private company for 5 years previously. In 2002 she joined Liz Darlison in the Lung Cancer Team as the first Lung Cancer Tracker in the country. This role was entered in the Lung Cancer Good Practice Guide and was adopted by other cancer networks nationally and internationally not only in lung' but other cancer specialties. Her role gradually developed into the University Hospitals of Leicester Lung MDT and Patient Pathway Co-ordinator. Jill joined Mesothelioma UK in 2007 where she project managed a national audit called ChiMP (Chemotherapy in Mesothelioma Patients). The audit was a one year project launched in February 2008 with the aim to clarify what, where and how much chemotherapy treatment was being prescribed to mesothelioma patients in England. She then joined the Charitable Trust in 2009 as Fundraising and Marketing Manager which she has found challenging but thoroughly enjoys. Jill's love of travel has taken her on many cruises and she has visited some wonderful places around the world and hopes to complete her bucket list of places she would like to visit.

Dawn McKinley Operational Manager

Dawn is the Operational Manager of British Thoracic Oncology Group (4 days per week) and for Mesothelioma UK (1 day per week). Dawn took up the role for BTOG in October 2002 and for Mesothelioma UK in June 2004. Dawn is also a trustee of the Mesothelioma UK Charitable Trust which exists to fund the work of Mesothelioma UK. The roles for BTOG encompass finance, marketing, aspects of the organisation and co-ordination of related meetings, conferences and study days and the administration of both organisations. The roles also support projects, such as patient surveys and treatment consensus statements, which improve the patient pathway and experience. Dawn's professional background includes marketing, PA roles and VAT accountancy. Prior to October 2002 Dawn worked in Sydney, Australia for two years as a VAT Consultant after taking a transfer to her existing accountancy firm's sister company in Sydney. Since then, Dawn tries to visit Sydney and the good friends she made over there every other year. Dawn also likes making jewellery and she has currently joined a reading club.

Sophie Littlejohn Apprentice

Sophie is an administration apprentice. She is 18 years old and has just left school after completing her AS levels at Robert Smyth Academy. Sophie is now working towards completing an NVQ certificate in Business and Administration. She recently joined Mesothelioma UK Charitable Trust in an apprentice role.
Sophie has recently passsed her driving test and is enjoying the freedom of the open road.