Yorkshire Voices

“If I’d had access to screening, I might not now be looking at an incurable cancer diagnosis.”

Robert and his wife, Caroline, sitting together and smiling at the camera

Robert Minton-Taylor recently learned he has just six years to live after being diagnosed with incurable prostate cancer.

“If I hadn’t paid for a private health check, I’d never have known I had prostate cancer.”

Christopher sits on a sofa, holding his baby grandchild and smiling at the camera.

When former York restaurant owner Christopher Holder reached his mid-50s, he decided to pay for a private health check.Motivated by the death of his father from a…

“Prostate screening is pivotal. Without it, a lot of guys are going to be stuffed.”

Russell holding his grandchild. He is wearing a blue top and a black cap. The baby is also smiling at the camera.

Over six years ago, hair and scalp consultant Russell McFarlane went to see his GP after hearing that men of Afro-Caribbean ethnicity were more likely to get…

“Thanks to my cancer screening, I was there for my granddaughter’s first day of school” - David’s experience

Retired milkman David Sutcliffe from Leeds had always lived an active lifestyle. From his twenties, he frequently played golf, cycled and hiked with his friends in…

“By doing regular body checks, you considerably increase the chances of finding cancer early” – Jackie's experience

Jackie Buxton standing outside in sunset lighting smiling at the camera. She is wearing a grey jumper and standing in front of a wall with fields behind it.

When mother-of-two Jackie Buxton from Huby discovered a lump in her breast, she made sure to ring her GP on the same day to book an appointment."I was in the…

“Combining lung health checks with stop smoking support is so important” Sue’s experience

Sue standing in front of a brick wall wearing a blue t-shirt and Yorkshire Cancer Research branded lanyard. She is smiling at the camera.

Sue O’Shea has enjoyed many roles in healthcare, mainly working for the NHS, but for her, helping people quit smoking is the most rewarding.Sue started her role as…

“My grandfather had great dreams of a better world” - Ruth’s memories of B.T. Clegg, Yorkshire Cancer Research founder

An image of B T Clegg and his wife in an old black and white photo. They are both smiling at the camera.

Yorkshire Cancer Research was born in May 1925 – 100 years ago – when some of Yorkshire’s most notable figures gathered at the Old Medical School in Leeds. Here,…

"If you don’t sign up for these things, progress is never made.” - David's experience

David from Leeds, smiling at the camera wearing a christmas jumper

David, from Leeds in West Yorkshire, was diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2023 after experiencing breathlessness, one of the less common symptoms of bowel…

“It’s never too late to stop smoking”: Bryan’s experience

Bryan standing in front of an NHS Yorkshire Smokefree Service promotional banner and smiling.

Bryan Hoyle first started smoking when he was seven years old, after being given the odd cigarette by older friends. Soon, he was buying them himself and for 58…

"Cancer research is my beacon of hope”: Neil’s experience

Neil crowd surfing over his friends and family in the sunset outside.

When father-of-three and life-long golfer Neil Clark was diagnosed with cancer, it was at the height of the pandemic in July 2020. Soon after his diagnosis, Neil…

"Cancer research is so important - so more people survive" - Marisa's experience

In 2024, Marisa Bird from Easingwold took to the skies, raising £1,300 to help save lives in Yorkshire.Cheered on by her four sons, the mother-of-five completed a…

"Active Together has been a complete lifeline for me." - Claire's experience

Three people sit together with a golden retriever

Claire Strachan, a mother of two from Wetherby, joined Active Together after her breast cancer diagnosis in October 2022.
The programme, funded by Yorkshire Cancer…

"It sounds like a cheesy thing to say but Active Together has changed my life" - Kathryn's experience

Lady in blue 'Active Together' t-shirt smiling at the camera

Kathryn, from Stocksbridge in South Yorkshire, has been taking part in the Active Together service after she was diagnosed with gynaecological cancer in late 2023.

"I want to urge young women, who are invited for the first time, to attend their screening appointments" - Hayley's experience

Two selfies showing the same blonde young lady

Hayley Grice, from Doncaster, urges others to attend their cervical screening after warning signs were found during her screening appointment.

"Screening is the reason I'm here today" - Diane's experience

Diane looking out of a window and holding a mug

A Leeds woman is urging people to take part in bowel screening after recent analysis by Yorkshire Cancer Research shows a quarter of eligible people in Yorkshire do…

"If possible, I would like to be an example that you can live life to the full with cancer." - Gary's experience

Gary Lovelace sitting and smiling at the camera

When Gary Lovelace found out that he had incurable cancer, he got together with an old school friend who is a war reporter in Ukraine and together they have raised…

"Even though I know my cancer is incurable, I feel alive knowing that there are lots of people who are showing their support for people like me" - Shiela's experience

Umbleby family standing in front of a Christmas tree with their Yorkshire Star dedications

For Shiela Umpleby, the festive season is an opportunity to spend quality time with loved ones, and since she was diagnosed with breast cancer two years ago,…

"It was important to us that the money we raised went to a charity that would help Yorkshire people" - Bethany's experience

Bethany Wilkins was 11 when her mother Andrea first lost her hair after having chemotherapy, and she promised she would shave her own head should it happen…

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List ofYorkshire Voices

“If I’d had access to screening, I might not now be looking at an incurable cancer diagnosis.”

“If I hadn’t paid for a private health check, I’d never have known I had prostate cancer.”

“Prostate screening is pivotal. Without it, a lot of guys are going to be stuffed.”

“Thanks to my cancer screening, I was there for my granddaughter’s first day of school” - David’s experience

“By doing regular body checks, you considerably increase the chances of finding cancer early” – Jackie's experience

“Combining lung health checks with stop smoking support is so important” Sue’s experience

“My grandfather had great dreams of a better world” - Ruth’s memories of B.T. Clegg, Yorkshire Cancer Research founder

“It’s never too late to stop smoking”: Bryan’s experience

"Cancer research is my beacon of hope”: Neil’s experience

"Cancer research is so important - so more people survive" - Marisa's experience

"Active Together has been a complete lifeline for me." - Claire's experience

"It sounds like a cheesy thing to say but Active Together has changed my life" - Kathryn's experience

"I want to urge young women, who are invited for the first time, to attend their screening appointments" - Hayley's experience

"Screening is the reason I'm here today" - Diane's experience

"If possible, I would like to be an example that you can live life to the full with cancer." - Gary's experience

"Even though I know my cancer is incurable, I feel alive knowing that there are lots of people who are showing their support for people like me" - Shiela's experience

"So many people have been stars during my cancer experience"

"Dedicating a star to our daughter Kristina is a way of keeping her memory alive" - the Bowser family's experience

"When I was diagnosed with cancer, I knew it was going to be important to stay healthy" - David's experience

“Volunteering felt like stepping into living again” - Jenny’s breast cancer experience

"It was important to me to raise funds for a local charity" - Paula's experience

"It was important to us that the money we raised went to a charity that would help Yorkshire people" - Bethany's experience

Filter by:

List ofYorkshire Voices

“If I’d had access to screening, I might not now be looking at an incurable cancer diagnosis.”

“If I hadn’t paid for a private health check, I’d never have known I had prostate cancer.”

“Prostate screening is pivotal. Without it, a lot of guys are going to be stuffed.”

“Thanks to my cancer screening, I was there for my granddaughter’s first day of school” - David’s experience

“By doing regular body checks, you considerably increase the chances of finding cancer early” – Jackie's experience

“Combining lung health checks with stop smoking support is so important” Sue’s experience

“My grandfather had great dreams of a better world” - Ruth’s memories of B.T. Clegg, Yorkshire Cancer Research founder

"If you don’t sign up for these things, progress is never made.” - David's experience

“It’s never too late to stop smoking”: Bryan’s experience

"Cancer research is my beacon of hope”: Neil’s experience

"Cancer research is so important - so more people survive" - Marisa's experience

"Active Together has been a complete lifeline for me." - Claire's experience

"It sounds like a cheesy thing to say but Active Together has changed my life" - Kathryn's experience

"I want to urge young women, who are invited for the first time, to attend their screening appointments" - Hayley's experience

"Screening is the reason I'm here today" - Diane's experience

“I hope that by sharing my experience, I’ve helped protect future generations from the harms of smoking”

"If possible, I would like to be an example that you can live life to the full with cancer." - Gary's experience

"Even though I know my cancer is incurable, I feel alive knowing that there are lots of people who are showing their support for people like me" - Shiela's experience

"So many people have been stars during my cancer experience"

"Dedicating a star to our daughter Kristina is a way of keeping her memory alive" - the Bowser family's experience

"When I was diagnosed with cancer, I knew it was going to be important to stay healthy" - David's experience

“Volunteering felt like stepping into living again” - Jenny’s breast cancer experience

"It was important to me to raise funds for a local charity" - Paula's experience

"It was important to us that the money we raised went to a charity that would help Yorkshire people" - Bethany's experience

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