Our wonderful volunteer, Samantha, has been volunteering within our Charity hub in Chelsea each Monday for the past 18 months. She decided to volunteer after members of her family were patients at The Royal Marsden.
“I’m a Chelsea girl, born and bred and the hospital has always been a familiar sight in my day-to-day life. Like lots of people, I have a very close connection to The Royal Marsden, and it feels like I have grown up alongside the hospital, having spent my youth here whilst my brother was treated for Hodgkin Lymphoma when I was just 13. I also lost my sister to cancer in 2022.”
Sadly, Samantha’s brother died at the age of 27. Samantha wanted to give back to the hospital in his memory. She applied to join the Charity hub volunteering team, which was a role that fitted in alongside her full-time job.
“It's not just about volunteering, it's about connecting with others”
“I manage a local bridal shop in Fulham and have always loved talking to different people. I love that my volunteering role is so different from my day job. Cancer has affected my life in so many ways; I find it so rewarding that I can give something back to the hospital that treated my brother and sister. They are my motivation to volunteer.
“I volunteer at The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity because it’s my way of giving back to a charity that has supported my family in so many ways. It’s not just about volunteering, it’s about connecting with others, meeting people from all walks of life. Many we see week in, week out, and they like to chat about how things are going. We engage with patients and visitors alike; it is a privilege to hear their stories."
The Charity hub in Chelsea, which has sold over 650 items since it launched in January 2025, helps to raise awareness of the work we support at The Royal Marsden. Samantha enjoys her time chatting with patients, staff and other volunteers, while helping to make a difference.
“I get so much from it personally, knowing that all the things we sell go towards helping such a meaningful cause. Every small action can make such a big difference. Every week, I look forward to my Monday mornings.”
Thank you!
By donating your time, you ensure we can make a difference to the lives of cancer patients everywhere. Volunteers are at the very heart of what we do at The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity and we're so grateful for their support.
Become a volunteer
Samantha is one of our 110 volunteers at The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity. From supporting at cheer points, working in our office, being an ambassador, and helping at our events such as The Banham Marsden March or Ever After Garden, there are so many ways to get involved.
Your time as a volunteer is a very special gift. Whether you would like to give something back to The Royal Marsden, gain valuable experience, or meet like-minded people, we have a role for you.
If Samantha’s story has inspired you to join our volunteering team, find out about our current volunteering vacancies on our volunteering page or get in touch with our team at volunteering@rmh.nhs.uk.