Our Chief Executive Officer
Marcella Turner founded Can-Survive UK from her home in 2015 with a phone, laptop, and unbounded passion to provide culturally appropriate support primarily for African and Caribbean people diagnosed with cancer and their carers.
Having been heavily involved in the end-of-life care for her father, who died from prostate cancer, she was determined to address the lack of culturally appropriate support services for African and Caribbean community and other culturally diverse community members.
Her tireless work in developing Can-Survive UK led, in 2023, to Marcella winning the Community category in the Inspiring Woman Awards.
Marcella writes:
“Having been personally affected by cancer, I set up Can-Survive UK to address the lack of culturally appropriate support service provision for African and Caribbean community members diagnosed with cancer and their carers.
Can-Survive UK is primarily but not exclusively for the African and Caribbean people – our services are for everyone. All are welcome!
We are based in the community, for the community, and service users and wider community members are central to the development and delivery of our projects and services.
I am passionate about raising awareness about the signs, symptoms and risk factors of cancer and work in partnership with statutory, voluntary, and mainstream cancer organisations to address this, as well as to encourage and support our target groups to effectively engage with the various cancer screening programmes.
Our vision is to provide culturally sensitive support services locally, regionally and nationally, delivering holistic therapies and support for people diagnosed or living with or after cancer or caring for someone with cancer; to enable them to build confidence, resilience, and strength to overcome the challenges cancer brings.”
