LAYLA STEPHEN – CEO

Layla has had the pleasure of running the charity since its inception back in early 2011 after being approached by founders Neil Pearce and Brian Stedman. She met the founders after being diagnosed herself with multiple neuroendocrine tumour’s in December 2008, shortly after the birth her son.

Layla says ‘I am truly blessed to be a part of an amazing multi disciplinary fundraising team, based voluntarily and at University Hospital Southampton. The last 7 years have been a whirlwind for PLANETS and we have achieved unbelievable levels of support and awareness far beyond our greatest expectations. We have an ambitious strategy ahead of us with plans for innovation and growth within a charity where a passion in fundraising for PLANETS cancers is at the heart of our work’.

Jo Green – Operations Director

Jo was diagnosed with Neuroendocrine cancer in October 2011 at the age of 34 and had her initial surgery with Mr Neil Pearce in December 2011. Since then she has been heavily involved in the charity, from both a marketing point of view, patient support and also arranging events, including successful charity balls in 2012 and 2018, as well as rounding up all her friends to take part in various challenges!

Jo formerly worked for many years as a Sales and Marketing Manager in a health club in Bournemouth and also teaches fitness classes and says ‘my involvement in PLANETS has been very important to me since my diagnosis. I have made some great friends but also love the fact that I am being proactive with regards to gaining awareness and improving treatment for other NET patients. It has been an extremely positive aspect to my life, helping to offset the impact that living with cancer can have. My friends have supported me in my fundraising which has given me (and them) some incredible experiences and the PLANETS family that I have gained has been an invaluable support to me as well. I feel very lucky to be involved with PLANETS and I am proud of what we have achieved so far.’

Mr Neil Pearce – Co-Founder

Neil Pearce was the lead consultant surgeon for the regional pancreas, liver and neuroendocrine tumour service based in Southampton from 2005 to 2013 and co-founded PLANETS with Layla and Brian. He was diagnosed himself with a progressive form of Multiple Sclerosis which cut short his surgical career; he has since taken on the role of associate medical director at University Hospital Southampton with overall responsibility for patient safety.

Neil is still involved clinically with providing guidance for patients with advanced cancers on complex treatment pathways. During his surgical career he was a pioneer of new treatments and championed the cross disciplinary approach to tackling advanced cancer, using all the different modalities of treatment available. He saw the need for PLANETS to offer support for patients on these complex journeys and help provide innovative cancer treatments many years sooner than the existing NHS funding mechanisms could allow.

Dr Brian Stedman – Co-Founder

Brian Stedman is a world leading interventional radiologist who specialises in treating advanced cancer involving the pancreas and liver. He has been proactive in finding extreme physical challenges to help us fundraise and has been instrumental in developing our “WholeTeam” approach, which sees patients, family, friends and the medical team all working together tackling fun runs, skydiving, assault courses, marathons and extreme cycling events. Under his expert guidance 57 patients, family members, friends, doctors, physios and nurses completed the London to Paris, 24 hour, 320km cycle ride in 2016; despite most of them being novice cyclists 6 months before. This event alone raised over £65,000.

Brian’s relentless enthusiasm has also succeeded in breaking down the traditional barriers between local hospitals so that staff from Southampton, Portsmouth, Dorchester, Bournemouth, Poole and Salisbury all give their time voluntarily to this same cause.

Professor Alex Mirnezami Trustee

Alex Mirnezami is Professor of Surgical Oncology in the University of Southampton and an Honorary Consultant Colorectal Surgeon. He has linked clinical and laboratory research interests, leading a group in the area of colorectal cancer and its progression and recurrence.

His clinical expertise in particular is in complex advanced or recurrent abdominal and pelvic cancers, and he has pioneered the development, testing, and application of Intraoperative electron beam radiotherapy for these complex tumours.

His research work evaluates the role of small RNA molecules in colorectal cancer progression, in particular those derived not just from the cancer cells but from their surrounding cells, and which can promote cancer cell growth and spread.

Professor Tim Underwood – Trustee

Tim Underwood is Professor of Gastrointestinal Surgery at the University of Southampton. Following a Medical Research Council (MRC) Clinician Scientist Fellowship, he became a Cancer Research UK & Royal College of Surgeons of England Advanced Clinician Scientist Fellow in April 2017.

Professor Underwood leads a programme of research studying the role of the tumour microenvironment in cancer development and progression. His team develop and apply advanced technologies to understand tumour complexity in oesophageal cancer including highly parallel genome-wide expression profiling of single cells using nanoliter droplets (DropSeq) and the generation of multicellular organoid models.

Professor Underwood is a member of the National Cancer Research Institute (NCRI) Upper GI Clinical Studies Group and he is a member of the Steering Committee of the Oesophageal Cancer Clinical and Molecular Stratification (OCCAMS) consortium. He is a past Chairman of the Oesophageal Cancer Westminster Campaign and a trustee of Heartburn Cancer UK.

Craig Hoyland – Trustee

Craig is a Director of Regal Homes, a local property company who have supported PLANETS Charity for many years, organising the unforgettable Scrap to the Future Car Rally and it’s follow up, Scrap 2, raising over £70,000 and enabling us to create a dedicated theatre for our IORT machine. The Regal Homes team have been an incredible ally to PLANETS in it’s formative years and we are grateful to Craig for offering to step up as a Trustee and continue this valuable partnership.

Craig says ‘I started supporting PLANETS in 2016 after seeing the incredible hard work and passion the PLANETS team and patients put into the charity. I was also extremely impressed by the ability to see exactly where the money goes from the fundraising and hearing from patients (many of whom have taken part in various events) how the charity has helped save, enrich and prolong lives.

I look forward to helping and assisting the PLANETS team to fundraise and help even more people in the future.’

Emily Dolan – Trustee

Emily’s involvement in PLANETS came through the passing of her late mother from pancreatic cancer. Being grateful for the high level of treatment and care her mother received from surgeon Neil Pearce and his team, Emily was keen to support his charity in its infant stages. This came about through a charity ball, orientated to commemorate her mothers memory and raise money for PLANETS. With the support of an amazing group of family and friends, Emily has held two successful charity balls so far with another one in the pipeline.

Tori Caine – Trustee

Tori has successfully organised mass tandem skydive and abseil events for over 120 thrill seeking PLANETS supporters. Proud moments include watching her Mum and Pancreatic Cancer survivor Linda Caine scale the famous Spinnaker Tower and helping Mr Neil Pearce and Dr Brian Stedman to fulfil their skydive ambitions. As a licensed skydiver herself, Tori enjoys sharing her passion and raising funds at the same time. She also runs a dance school in Southampton and enjoys choreographing and theatre directing for local charity shows.

Ruth Willrich – Trustee

Ruth is a patient with multiple neuroendocrine tumour’s, originally diagnosed in 2010. Since then she has had a lot of treatment with both Neil Pearce and Brian Stedman who she says have ‘put her back on the rails with a not-to-be-beaten attitude.’

Ruth was invited to join the PLANETS team in its infancy in early 2011. Ruth says ‘I have a jack-of-all-trades role within the team, primarily focused on fund raising, creating awareness and promoting the cause. I’ve organised two very successful balls, fundraised through participation in a variety of events and supported new patients. Outside of the charity I enjoy spending time with my teenage daughter, who also gives her support to the charity wherever possible.’

Lesley Waters – Patron

We are delighted that celebrity Chef, Lesley Waters, has become our first charity Patron!

Lesley, who lives in West Dorset, is well known for her regular television appearances on Ready Steady Cook, Great Food Live and This Morning.

Lesley has now established her own cookery school – The Lesley Waters Cook School – in Shaftesbury which offers demonstrations and hands on classes and is also guest chef at White Pepper Cook School.

Lesley’s offer to become patron for PLANETS came after finding out about its connection with the family of Karen Ford, a keen cook who had previously worked with Lesley and sadly passed away 18 months ago after a long battle against pancreatic cancer.

Karen was a supporter and friend of PLANETS attending events including the Millionaires’ Ball in 2019 after being treated by members of the charity’s clinical team at University Hospital Southampton.

We are extremely grateful to Lesley for taking on this role for us and can’t wait to welcome her to the PLANETS family.