“We love volunteering, we feel we are giving back but we get so much back too!”

Brian’s treatment at The Royal Marsden 

Brian was diagnosed with throat and tongue cancer in October 2019 and was referred to The Royal Marsden for treatment in December of that year. Brian had chemotherapy and subsequently became the first head and neck patient to be treated on the MR Linac machine which was funded by supporters of The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity.

MR Linac stands for Magnetic Resonance Linear Accelerator. It’s a revolutionary machine that delivers radiotherapy with the guidance of an MRI scanner. This allows radiotherapy to be adjusted in real time, helping to minimise damage to healthy tissue and reduce side effects for patients. 

Brian is now cancer free and receiving regular check-ups as part of his ongoing pioneering treatment. 

Becoming a volunteer for the Veterans service

After completing his treatment, Brian decided he wanted to give back by becoming a volunteer at The Royal Marsden. Brian first became a meet and greet volunteer, however, after hearing about The Royal Marsden Veterans service, he signed up, having been a Royal Marine for eight years. 

The service, which is supported by The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity, supports patients who have served, are currently serving or family members of veterans. This includes:

• supporting them with attendance at appointments
• chaperoning them to and from transport
• providing access to information to other veteran’s resources and support networks
• befriending and companionship if they’re alone and anxious

For Brian, this service is incredibly important to him: “My motto is ‘Once a Marine, always a Marine’. I want to give a little bit back to the hospital and the eight years that I served as a Marine. Veterans face a unique set of challenges. My background means I understand these difficulties first-hand, which comes in handy when offering support and guidance.”

“A volunteering memory that stands out was when I accompanied a veteran to his outpatient appointment. He was visibly shaking and extremely nervous as he was attending the appointment alone. We had already built a rapport based on our shared life experiences, which seemed to put him at ease. It was clear that it made a big difference to have a fellow veteran looking out for him while he was at the hospital.”

Joined by Pat: “It also brings a smile to my face”

In February 2023, Pat also decided to start volunteering to join Brian in giving something back, volunteering once a week to run the refreshment trolley, which visits wards in Sutton. 

“Brian received such fantastic treatment at The Royal Marsden, I wanted to give something back too. I call myself a Trolley dolly! I love wearing the cheerful t-shirt, chatting to patients, making them smile and getting to know them. I love seeing the patients faces when we come to serve them, it really makes a difference to their day, and it also brings a smile to my face.”