Bristol cancer charity Penny Brohn UK has appointed Julie Worrall as its next CEO.
Julie, pictured, has personal experience of cancer, having been diagnosed with stage 4 cancer of the ovary 15 years ago at the age of 24. 
Since then she has dedicated her career to using her professional skills to ‘give back’ and has worked at Marie Curie Cancer Care and CLIC Sargent (Young Lives vs. Cancer).
She is currently director of fundraising and development at Above and Beyond, the official charity for the University Hospitals Bristol NHS Trust – the hospitals that treated Julie.
Julie, who takes up her post at Pill-based Penny Brohn UK in October, said: “People need more than medicine to cope with all the ways that cancer impacts their life. I believe that everyone affected by cancer should be able to access Penny Brohn’s whole-life approach.
“My own personal experience of cancer, and of working in the health sector, give me a unique perspective and a passion to take this organisation forward.”
Julie’s form of cancer was so rare that just 15 people in the UK are diagnosed with it a year.
She said: “It was a huge shock to us all. However, I was lucky. I received incredible treatment, care and compassion which I will forever be grateful for. It was a devastating experience physically and emotionally that continues to impact me to this day.
“However, it also gave rise to so much good and I remain driven to turn my experiences into a force for good.”
Julie has more than 15 years’ experience in the charity health sector, seven of them in formal leadership roles, and she has served on boards for national and local charities.
She has a wealth of experience in programme development, income generation and developing strategic partnerships including working alongside the NHS. 
Penny Brohn UK chair of trustees Stephen Rosser said Julie’s experience meant her role at the charity would be “transformational” as the coronavirus pandemic was having a profound impact on its ability to fundraise.
It is also challenging the ability of the charity – which takes an integrated and whole-person approach to cancer support – to deliver its services. These include free adult residential and day courses to help people feel empowered and reclaim control of their health.
Mr Rosser, pictured, who is CEO of Bristol-headquartered national law firm Clarke Willmott, said Julie would lead Penny Brohn UK through a period of change in order to survive the impact of the coronavirus pandemic to continue to help people live well with cancer.
“Julie’s appointment will place Penny Brohn UK in excellent hands for the future. She is a strong strategic leader with expertise in driving change,” he said.
“Penny Brohn’s pioneering whole life approach to cancer has been helping people thrive for 40 years. Our approach is proven to make a real difference to someone’s quality of life by helping them to care for their mind, body, spirit and emotions.
“At this time of great uncertainty for all, our support is needed more than ever. With so many cancer patients impacted and cancer services under pressure, now is the time for the charity to pioneer again, to reach everyone whose lives are being doubly impacted by the pandemic. 
“We are confident that under Julie’s leadership we will find ground-breaking ways to reach more people with cancer - in their home, in their community and in hospital.
“People need help now. They cannot wait. By harnessing opportunities in digital technology and health we will extend our services to provide support that reaches far beyond geographical borders.”
Julie added: “I am determined that Penny Brohn will get through this difficult time and emerge stronger. I look forward very much to working with the brilliant staff team and to leading Penny Brohn UK into an exciting new phase of development and to be able to make broader and deeper sustained impact for the people we exist to support.”
Julie replaces Laura Kerby, who left has been Penny Brohn UK earlier this year after six years as CEO to become Myeloma UK ’s chief executive.
More than 2.5m people are living with cancer in the UK and the number is rising every year. Yet half of them have unmet holistic needs.
Penny Brohn UK’s whole-person approach explores areas such as diet, exercise, emotions, relationships and managing stress and its free courses, one-to-one therapies and group sessions, work alongside standard medical treatment to achieve the best health and wellbeing by supporting the holistic needs – psychological, emotional, spiritual and physical – of people affected by cancer.
