Live Through This selected as Roche UK’s Lead2030 Challenge Winner

Following a nationwide search, Roche UK has announced Live Through This as the winner of its Lead2030 Challenge for SDG 3. Cancer Education UK has also been selected as a challenge runner-up.

Formed by One Young World and powered by some of the world’s leading businesses, Lead2030 finds, funds and accelerates SDG solutions created by founders under 30. Since coming together in 2018, Lead2030 partners have provided $1 million+ and hundreds of hours of executive mentorship to support enterprises identified through Lead2030.

Roche UK, a pioneer in healthcare, supports the Lead2030 Challenge for SDG 3 which seeks to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all ages, at every stage of life. Roche UK set the challenge to identify and support innovative UK based organisations or individuals working to ensure equity for UK cancer patients.

Stewart O’Callaghan is the founder and director of Live Through This. They started the organisation after seeing a lack of LGBTIQ+ specific support or visibility in the cancer sector. Stewart was diagnosed with Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia around Christmas 2016 and has been treated in multiple hospitals for their condition. Through their skills in research, teaching and public speaking they try to raise the profile of LGBTIQ+ issues in cancer care and support. They strongly believe in community and cooperation and are proud to work with multiple LGBT+ organisations and NHS hospitals in coordinating their efforts to improve inclusion in cancer care for all. Live Through This is the UK's only LGBTIQ+ Cancer Charity.

Stewart will receive a US$50,000 grant to further develop Live Through This, as well as mentorship from Roche UK professionals to help scale their impact. Responding to their selection Stewart said:

“I am absolutely thrilled to win Roche UK’s Lead2030 Challenge. I created the charity Live Through This as a vehicle to support and advocate for LGBTIQ+ people affected by cancer. We tackle the barriers facing LGBTIQ+ patients using a multi-level approach, combining lived experience with clinical expertise, and the recognition of our work from Roche UK and One Young World is a real milestone. With the support from both organisations, ensuring equity for LGBTIQ+ cancer patients becomes all the more possible. I look forward to working together with the team at Roche UK to create meaningful change for all cancer patients in the future.”
 

 
Roche UK will also provide mentorship and $25,000 to support Cancer Education UK as a runner-up. Founded by Mary Oladele, Cancer Education UK focuses on raising awareness on cancer, and supports patients and their families within Black, Asian and Ethnic Minority (BAME) communities. Mary’s passion to start the charity came during her clinical training as a therapeutic radiographer where she noticed the late diagnoses of cancer in BAME communities. Cancer Education UK advocates as a voice for under-served communities ensuring good health and well-being to provide systemic change for all.

Responding to her selection Mary said:

“We are excited to receive this award which will aid our work in reducing health inequalities, improving access to cancer services and allowing a more diverse, inclusive approach for patients from deprived communities so cancer can be detected and treated early.”