Mesothelioma UK is delighted to welcome Lorraine Creech and Simon Purves as new trustees. Lorraine and Simon join our team of trustees and bring a wealth of experience in healthcare and business management/finance to the charity.
Lorraine is a retired nurse after working for 47 years in the NHS. Her senior appointments prior to retirement were Macmillan Lung Cancer Lead Clinician at East Cheshire NHS Trust and Head of Nursing at Mesothelioma UK. She has a Masters in the Medical Ethics of Cancer and Palliative Care, and MSc level qualifications in clinical examination and diagnostics. She has also undertaken the National Cancer Leadership Programme.
Lorraine was the first nurse member of the British Thoracic Society Lung Cancer Working Party, the Lead Mesothelioma Nurse for the Greater Manchester Cancer Network and received the first lifetime achievement award from Lung Cancer Nursing UK in 2016.
Lorraine said: “I feel privileged to become a trustee for Mesothelioma UK. I feel passionate about helping the charity to be sustainable, solvent and well run. As well as drawing on my past clinical experience and the constant need to raise awareness, I am also keen to assist with fundraising initiatives.”
Simon qualified as a Chartered Accountant with Price Waterhouse in 1982, was a Director in HSBC Investment Bank and Chief Financial Officer of Eversholt Rail Group. Following the death from Mesothelioma of a very close friend in 2014, he has been involved in fundraising activities for Mesothelioma UK and is now delighted to be able also to bring his business management experience to the service of the charity.
Simon said: “I first came across the work of Mesothelioma UK in the sad circumstances of a friend suffering from this disease and quickly learned about the importance of their work, both in raising awareness of the disease and its causes, and in providing support to its victims. I am excited to be able to provide practical help to promoting this work further.”
Liz Darlison, Chief Executive of Mesothelioma UK added: “We’re so pleased that Lorraine and Simon have agreed to bring their considerable experience and expertise in two wholly different sectors to the board of Mesothelioma UK. They will further strengthen our team of trustees who play a valuable role in helping to direct, shape and influence the strategic management of the charity.”