Our Patrons
Karen Codling
Karen has lived in Sheffield all her life. She has worked for Irwin Mitchell Solicitors for over 25 years, starting as a legal clerk and rising to become an Associate Director within the Personal Injury department.
Karen tells us, “18 years ago I was diagnosed with Breast Cancer – a very frightening experience. After surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy, I was at a loss. The months of intensive visits to hospital and doctors had finished and I felt like I was on my own. It was very scary. I had been given details of the Cavendish Centre with all the other literature I received right at the start of my journey. I couldn’t accept that I had cancer let alone go and discuss it. I thought it was for people who were terminally ill.
Not so. After I had finished my treatment I needed advice in relation to lymphoedema and at the hospital was told that the best place to go was the Cavendish Centre. I rang and made my appointment. It was like coming home. I sat with an Assessor for an hour or so and discussed things that I hadn’t realised were bothering me; I cried a lot. I met lots of new friends and was taught how to care for my arm, and have never had lymphoedema since then. I have never looked back.”
Karen has been involved with fundraising for the Cavendish Cancer Care since her first visit; and became a Trustee after Irwin Mitchell chose the Cavendish Centre as their charity of the year for two consecutive years, raising £50,000. She was on the Board for 7 years and took on the role as Vice Chair.
As she says; “We have seen lots of changes in the Centre and it goes from strength to strength supporting as many people as possible in the Yorkshire area.”
Paul Blomfield MP
Paul was elected as the MP for Sheffield Central in May 2010 and has lived in Sheffield since his family moved here when he was 9. Before becoming an MP he spent most of his working life at Sheffield University, where he was most recently General Manager of the Students’ Union. In Parliament he is the Parliamentary Private Secretary to Hilary Benn and sits on the Business, Skills and Innovation Select Committee. He is also the Secretary of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Universities, Vice Chair of the All Party Group on Motor Neurone Disease. Paul is married and has one son.
Paul has been a patron of Cavendish Cancer Care for over 2 years and is always really happy to help our charity. Paul knows that Cavendish Cancer Care makes a difference to the lives of so many local families who are living with and beyond a cancer diagnosis. In April, he hosted a Cake Break at the Harland Café to help support our work!
Professor Julietta Patnick
Visiting Professor in Cancer Screening, University of Oxford
Julietta Patnick was Director of the NHS Cancer Screening Programmes until retirement in 2015.
Julietta is committed to improving the lives of people with cancer and increasingly interested in survivorship. She sees the Cavendish approach to giving people back some control in their lives as one improves the general health and wellbeing of people recovering from cancer treatment
Julietta graduated in Ancient History and Classical Civilisation from Sheffield University and lived in the city for over 40 years after graduation.
Mike Pye
Cllr Mike Pye joined Cavendish as a patron in 2005, when he chose Cavendish Cancer Care as one of his Lord Mayor’s charities during his year in office. Mike remained a consistent supporter, attending our charity balls, AGMs, and also doing regular fundraising of his own. In 2020, he shaved his head for Cavendish as part of the 250 Challenge!
We were deeply saddened by his sudden death in 2023 and will always remember him for his deep commitment to Cavendish Cancer Care and his warmth and kindness.
Kerrie Gosney
Kerrie Gosney is a freelance voice-over artist and weather presenter from the Hope Valley in Derbyshire. Kerrie has been a long-term supporter, helping us promote our service and events on ITV Calendar. She trekked the Great Wall of China for Cavendish in 2006, and Machu Picchu in 2012!
James and Jo Tear
Master and Mistress Cutler 2021-22, James and Jo Tear chose to support Cavendish through their year in office.
They fundraised throughout the year with their own challenges which included Sherry Tasting, Afternoon Tea, Burns Night, Golf Day at Lindrick Golf Club and completed the Sheffield 10k. As well as this, they led on the Master Cutler’s Challenge encouraging over 60 businesses and local organisations to fundraise for Cavendish.
Throughout their year they raised over £200,000 in aid of Cavendish and continue to support the work of the charity in their position as Patrons.