Whilst occasions round our world appear to turn into ever extra unfathomable, there may be nonetheless a really robust sense of that human spirit that surfaces typically sufficient to supply reassurances, at the very least to me personally, as to what the long run holds. I’ve labored for Cisco for over sixteen years now, typically in and round our associate neighborhood right here within the UK&I. To my thoughts, that Cisco Companion neighborhood may be very particular, and one which I really feel privileged to be a part of.
In 2017, a member of that neighborhood, Kevin Donaghy started an sudden journey. After 18 months of hospital visits, surgical procedures, and in the end being cleared of melanoma pores and skin most cancers, Kevin obtained the devastating information, simply earlier than Christmas in 2019, that the most cancers had returned. He was recognized with stage 4 metastatic melanoma —an incurable and life-limiting situation.
As he started remedy, the world went into lockdown because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Already feeling remoted by his analysis –Kevin didn’t know anybody else with melanoma –he was now additionally bodily separated from a lot of his assist system.
A Level of Connection
In search of connection, he started sharing his story in on-line assist teams and met folks whose lives had been instantly or not directly impacted by most cancers. By means of these conversations, he found that loneliness on the level of analysis is a typical expertise amongst most cancers sufferers. This realization impressed him to put in writing ‘Tales of Most cancers and Hope,’ a ebook that compiles 39 private tales, together with his personal, to assist others really feel much less alone.
The Energy of Partnership
Kevin was working for Ingram Micro UK and subsequently Comstor UK, two of Cisco’s largest distributors, on the time. He had robust relationships with lots of the tier 2 companions, Cisco Scotland, and the Cisco UKI associate staff. When ‘Tales of Most cancers and Hope’ was revealed, a lot of these companions together with Commsworld, IT Worx, 4MS, Softworx, Datavita, Barrier Networks, Simoda, and Intelys got here collectively and raised £21K to sponsor the distribution of his ebook.
Ricky Nicol, founder and deputy chairman of Commsworld, is a most cancers survivor himself and was moved by Kevin’s mission. “What Kevin is doing is so inspirational,” Nicol shared. “I used to be delighted to contribute my very own story to his ebook, and Commsworld is equally proud to have supplied the funds to get Tales of Most cancers and Hope revealed.”
Nicol’s expertise with throat most cancers deeply impacted him and his enterprise. “Once I was recognized, most cancers was typically seen as a demise sentence. I used to be advised my possibilities of survival have been solely 50-50,” Nicol recalled. “However I recovered, and my most cancers journey ended up altering the path of the enterprise I ran for the higher.”
“Our contribution ensured that individuals affected by most cancers have entry to tales that encourage and uplift, reminding them that they aren’t alone of their struggle. We consider that these tales will make a significant distinction within the lives of many, offering energy and solace in troublesome instances.” Kathryn McMullan, Barrier Networks
By means of partnership and shared function, Kevin was in a position to distribute and donate, for gratis, over 7,500 copies of his ebook, exceeding his preliminary goal of 1,000 copies, to 90 most cancers charities, assist teams, and remedy facilities throughout the UK and Eire, together with 24 Maggie’s centres. Maggie’s is a nonprofit most cancers care supplier with a community of centres offering free sensible and emotional assist to folks with most cancers and their households. Due to the great work they do, Kevin additionally chosen Maggie’s to be the beneficiary of any proceeds from the sale of his ebook, and raised consciousness of their impactful work on UK nationwide and native media channels.
“We’re so grateful to Kevin for selecting to assist Maggie’s and for elevating consciousness of the care we provide. The donations have enabled Maggie’s to supply our very important assist to extra folks with most cancers and their households.” Adam Feder, Maggie’s Head of Company Partnerships
“All this could not have been attainable with out the collaboration and sponsorship from my neighborhood of Cisco companions and different sponsors. I do know our ebook helps folks not really feel alone, and I’m so grateful to everybody who gave their story, time, love, and sponsorship to this endeavor,” mentioned Kevin.
4 and a half years since his analysis, Kevin is delighted to say that his most cancers is below management. “Though it’s life-limiting and incurable, my household and I’ve been given extra time to spend collectively and to get pleasure from life.”
It’s onerous to know precisely how anybody of us may resist such a life problem as Kevin, his household and buddies, however by means of his story it’s clear not solely does he encourage that robust sense of human spirit and generosity, however he additionally teaches us one thing crucial about at all times dealing with forwards.
Learn Kevin’s Tales of Most cancers and Hope and be part of this glorious endeavor!
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