Our Vision
Our vision is of a world in which people know how to recognise, diagnose, treat, care for, and ultimately cure patients with neuroendocrine cancer.
Our Mission
Our purpose is to support and inform patients and families from diagnosis, enabling access to the best care and treatment whilst stimulating neuroendocrine cancer research, increasing national awareness and influencing improvements in outcomes.
Our Values
– Equality of care for all neuroendocrine cancer patients in the UK.
– Excellence in support, care, treatment and research.
– Fair allocation of national resources and inclusion in national policies and strategies for all cancer types.
– Collaborative working and building an accessible, approachable fraternity.
– Honesty, transparency and integrity to promote confidence and trust in the charity.
Our History
Neuroendocrine Cancer UK was founded with the vision of providing support, raising awareness, and driving research for those affected by neuroendocrine cancer. What started as a small community initiative has now grown into a leading charity that advocates for patients and their families across the UK.
Our journey began with a group of passionate individuals who recognised the need for more information and support for those living with this often misdiagnosed cancer. Since our inception, we have expanded our reach, developed key services, and launched a variety of initiatives to improve understanding and treatment options for neuroendocrine cancer.
Over the years, we have partnered with other organisations, contributed to critical research, and developed educational resources for healthcare professionals. Today, we continue to advocate for improved care, diagnosis, and treatment, while supporting the community through information, resources, and fundraising.
As we look to the future, our commitment to supporting the neuroendocrine cancer community remains unwavering, and we are proud of the progress we’ve made together.
Our Team
Catherine Bouvier Ellis
CEO & Co-Founder
Beth Chesser
Marketing & Digital Coordinator
Clare Gerrard
Marketing & Communications Officer
Craig Speirs
Fundraising Coordinator
Famida Bishop
Office Manager
Kate Quirk
Neuroendocrine Cancer Support Co-ordinator
Leanne Talbot
Head of Operations
Lisa Walker
Marketing Director
Nikie Jervis (RN, PGDip)
Director of Support Services including Education & Policy NMC registered nurse
Olivia Beattie
Neuroendocrine Cancer Support Nurse
Our Patron and Trustees
Prof. Martyn Caplin
Patron and Consultant in Gastroenterology and Hepatobiliary Medicine at the Royal Free Hospital in London.
Peter Gwilliam
Co-Founder and Chair Trustee
David Ames
Trustee
Emma Brown
Trustee
Gordon Brown
Trustee
John Kent
Trustee
Professor Srirajaskanthan
Trustee
Tom Jackson
Trustee
The History of Neuroendocrine cancer UK
Timeline of Neuroendocrine Cancer UK
- 2002: Living with Carcinoid – The foundation of what would eventually become Neuroendocrine Cancer UK began under this name, offering support and guidance for those affected by neuroendocrine cancer.
- 2006: NET Patient Foundation – The charity evolved into the NET Patient Foundation, focusing on providing resources, support, and advocacy for individuals living with neuroendocrine tumours (NETs).
- 2020: Rebranding to Neuroendocrine Cancer UK – The organisation rebranded to better reflect the community it serves. The new name aimed to reduce confusion around neuroendocrine cancers and raise awareness of the disease in a more focused and explanatory way, marking a significant milestone in our mission to help those affected by NETs and NECs.
- January 2023: Integration with The Ann Edgar Charitable Trust – Neuroendocrine Cancer UK integrated with The Ann Edgar Charitable Trust, an organisation that had been running neuroendocrine cancer support groups in Scotland for over a decade. This partnership strengthened our reach and resources in supporting individuals in Scotland.
Our thanks to Peter Gwilliam, Liddy Oldroyd, Andy Geach and Cathy Kalamis for all of their inspiration and hard work in helping to set up Neuroendocrine Cancer UK.
Why do we have a Moth on our logo?
In medicine, the term “zebra” is used in reference to a rare disease or condition. “If you hear hooves, you assume horse.” The rare disease community wants you to consider zebra. We agree with and advocate this message. However due to the rise in incidence of Neuroendocrine Cancer, it is now less likely to be considered rare.
We have purposely chosen to use the moth as a symbol of our identity as it is often mistaken for a butterfly, or vice versa. People see a pleasant looking or ‘good moth’ and assume butterfly, on closer inspection it is shown to be a moth. People often assume that Neuroendocrine is one of the ‘good cancers’ – we know this not to be true. We ask that you consider the power of an assumption, and always take a closer look.