TAMMY
Chair
Tammy will chair our charitable trust. She is a long term carer of an oropharyngeal cancer patient and advocate for head and neck cancer people in general. A registered nurse in a cardiac unit, Tammy is interested in the science and has helped many patients over the years.
NICKY
Graphic designer
Nicky makes television advertisements and is also a graphic artist. She made our logo and brochures. Nicky had tongue cancer and has returned to near normal two years after surgery and radiotherapy. She has been able to re-establish her business and lend her expertise to our group.
MAUREEN
Strategic manager
Maureen started the Facebook group from which this charity arose. A recurrent tongue cancer survivor, she is aware of the obstacles that can arise on the patient pathway. She enjoys writing content and keeping up with the science on head and neck cancer.
MARY
Treasurer
A chartered accountant from Orewa, Mary had a cancer in her jaw removed two years ago and has had fibula reconstruction and many more minor surgeries over this time. She is a highly creative person, a scrapbooker, card maker and champion decorator of masks.
SUE
Secretary
Sue had tongue cancer over 20 years ago before radiotherapy was intensity modulated. In recent years she developed osteoradionecrosis and needed a fibula flap transplant to create a new right mandible. The successful surgery was performed by the same surgeons as in 1999! Sue is a former travel administrator.
TONI
Procurements Manager
Toni is a tongue cancer survivor keen to prevent other patients from going through what she has endured. Toni has worked in a family business and in charities and has public relations skills. She is particularly keen to get the prevention message out there, especially in terms of the HPV vaccination.
Susan Vujcich
Volunteer
Susan is an oral cavity cancer survivor keen to help other patients going through similar treatment to what she has endured. She is particularly keen to provide knowledge, advice, reassurance and comfort to patients as they navigate their treatment journey. Susan is a strong advocate for the HPV vaccination in young people as prevention for the type of cancer that she and many others of her generation are experiencing.
Catherine Parr
Volunteer
Catherine began treatment for Stage 4 tongue cancer in November 2018. Up until her diagnosis she worked full-time as a secondary school teacher. She retired because of the long-term effects of the treatment. She is keen to support others undergoing treatment for head and neck cancer and those navigating recovery in what may be a quite different life afterwards. She is passionate about the need for higher HPV vaccination rates in NZ.