PETE WALLROTH

Founder and CEO

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Along with friends and family, Pete founded Mummy’s Star in 2013 in memory of his wife Mair. Pete was with Mair for 10 years, marrying in October 2007 and then having two children; Martha and Merlin.

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Before establishing Mummy’s Star, Pete worked in communities, housing and local government for 10 years in some of Manchester’s most deprived communities. He oversaw many large employment, cultural and environmental projects which brought about lasting change to the areas, strengthened communities and secured over £7 million in funding.

Pete is responsible for the day to day running of the charity including its continued growth, visiting the mums we support, presenting about the work of Mummy’s Star and talking to hospitals and other medical organisations alike to help increase awareness of cancer in pregnancy. He is also a trustee of the charity.

 

Pete is an avid runner, walker and rugby fan.

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LAUREN BAILEY

Operations Manager

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Lauren joined Mummy’s Star in March 2024 bringing a wealth of experience from both the legal and charity sector.

Her expertise lies in project management, service delivery, and fundraising. She has a track record of supporting charitable organisations across the country to develop their strategic communications, reach their audiences, amplify their voices and get heard in the media.

In her free time, Lauren enjoys reading, crafting and going on adventures with her dog.

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SARA TYLER

Information & Support Worker 

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Sara worked in a nursery setting for the past 18 years where she thoroughly enjoyed working with children and their families. She began as an apprentice at aged 17 and went on to gain a management qualification. 

 

In 2014, she was diagnosed with a rare form of cervical cancer whilst 18 weeks pregnant with her daughter, Grace. She had chemotherapy during pregnancy which continued after Grace was born at 32 weeks, alongside radiotherapy and brachytherapy. She is extremely grateful to be part of the Mummy’s Star team and have the opportunity to contribute to something so important. 

 

Sara enjoys spending quality time with her children, family and friends, and watching a good series on TV!

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FIONA CAMPBELL

Information & Support Worker

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Fiona joined the Mummy’s Star team in 2022. Her background is in medicine, working in a wide variety of specialities over a period of 22 years, including breast disease and gynaecology. Her most recent role in the NHS was within occupational medicine, helping to support people returning to the workplace after a period of illness. 

 

After time out of the workforce due to her own experience of illness, she became an Advice, Guidance and Support worker within a food bank, helping to guide individuals and families at a crisis point in their lives to find a way to move forward.

 

In addition, she has undertaken training in health coaching, helping individuals to realise their own potential in relation to their health.

 

In her spare time, Fiona enjoys escaping into the great outdoors, learning French, singing and getting lost in a good crime novel.

JENNIE O'GRADY
Information & Support Worker

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Jennie joined the team in August 2023. After qualifying as a nurse in 2001, she worked as an Acute Medicine Nurse for the NHS. After having her second child she left her clinical role and started working in Cancer Services as a Cancer MDT Co-ordinator for the Respiratory and Gynaecology teams.

 

She is returning to the workplace after spending time as a full-time mum of a son and two daughters. Her youngest daughter has Type One Diabetes which has led Jennie to be a listening ear to other parents, and offering advice on the advancing technology available for people living with Type One Diabetes.

 

She loves a good chat, singing, yoga and spending time with her family. In her downtime, you will mostly find her walking in the Peak District with her dogs who she adores. She can also make an extremely good pie. 

KELI TOMLIN

Communications & Engagement Co-ordinator

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Keli joined the Mummy’s Star team in April 2021. She is an author and creator, studying for a Masters degree in Creative Writing. She is also trained as a Wedding/Naming Celebrant.

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In 2015, following the birth of her child, Keli developed an auto-immune condition called Addison’s Disease. Her experience as a new parent struggling with illness, and now living with a rare disease, helps her understand the complex impact illness has on families. She is keen to support them by ensuring they are seen, supported, and connected to people who care.

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Keli loves hill walking, reading fantasy novels and poetry, and eating salt and vinegar crisps!

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KAREN FOTHERGILL

Community & Fundraising Co-ordinator

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Karen joined the Mummy’s Star team in March 2023 and assists with the day to day administration of the charity providing support to the team. She now stewards all our amazing fundraisers and supporters in the community and beyond.

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She brings previous experience of working in a role focused working with volunteers with their educational, development and social proposition. Karen has an extensive background in administration, operations, facilities, and event management.
 

Karen is very family orientated and enjoys spending her spare time with her husband and daughter. You may also find her on a long walk, reading a book or bird watching!

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DR RICHARD SIMCOCK

Advisor (Oncology)

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Dr Richard Simcock has been a Consultant Clinical Oncologist at the Sussex Cancer Centre since 2004. Previously he had worked at the Sydney Cancer Centre, Australia and before that had completed five years of postgraduate specialist training in Oncology in London and the South East including Guys and St.Thomas’, Charing Cross and Mount Vernon Hospitals. He graduated from Guys and St.Thomas’ hospital in 1993.

 

Working closely with the surgical and nursing team Dr Simcock sees and treats patients diagnosed with early or advanced breast cancer. He advises on the role of radiation, chemotherapy, hormone, biological, and experimental treatments.

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VANESSA HICKSON

Advisor (Breast CNS)

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Vanessa has been a Macmillan Breast Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) for 18 years.

She has always been passionate about the psychosocial elements of care being integral

to the CNS role.

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On 18th June 2012, she met Mair and Pete Wallroth. That day, their world was turned upside down as Mair was diagnosed with breast cancer. She was 23 weeks pregnant. She continued to try to support them both through Mair’s treatment.

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JUDE JONES

Advisor 

(Midwifery)

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Jude is a PhD student and Project Midwife in Facemums, an innovative and unique social media service funded by Health Education England and delivered via the University of Salford. Her expertise is centred in collaboration and communication in social media, and the benefits of utilising digital platforms to communicate and inform service users and professionals. She drives the operation of the Facemums service which is currently provided within 13 NHS Trusts in England. Jude trains and supports the NHS Midwives who provide care via small groups throughout the pregnancy continuum and in addition to their routine care. Furthermore, Jude is undertaking PhD research to explore the experience of the Midwives who are providing care within Facemums.

Within her Midwifery care she has worked within Birth Centre and Community settings, most recently as a Community Midwife in Warrington and Halton Hospitals NHS Trust. Jude is also Midwifery Adviser to the charity Mummy's Star for women and their families who experience cancer in pregnancy and up to 12 months later.

Previously Jude founded and Chaired the University of Salford Midwifery Society. She remains a passionate promoter of Midwifery Societies and the benefit of student-led events in empowering future Midwives and collaborations between future Midwifery Leaders.

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JOANNE MILLS

Advisor 

(HR & Employment)

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Jo assists Mummy’s Star and our families with any HR /Employment related topics, policies and procedures. She worked in several different industries/companies and has over

20 + years of Human Resource Management experience. She has the experience of being a Mummy’s Star service user and understands the emotional impact on mums and families when dealing with such devastating news. Jo is mum to a beautiful daughter, Sienna and is married to Sean. She has carried out a large amount of fundraising for Mummy’s Star and Breast Cancer Care following her own diagnosis of cancer in 2014, raising over £55K.

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She first became aware of Mummy’s Star in 2014 when she was diagnosed with a rare form

of breast cancer in her right breast. At the time she was 35 weeks pregnant and 2 weeks later her daughter was delivered. She was one of the very first mums supported by the charity.

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The next 2 years involved an extensive treatment plan (chemotherapy, double mastectomy, radiotherapy, left side of thyroid removed and ovaries removed as precaution), and thankfully is now in remission and recovering well.

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DR JENNY RATTRAY

Advisor

(General Practice)

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Jenny has been a GP in Hampshire since 2012. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 2005 and since then has developed an interest in maternal and child health. She has previously held roles as named GP for children’s safeguarding for Hampshire 5 CCGs and as Wessex perinatal mental health Clinical Champion for the Royal College of General Practice.

 

Jenny was diagnosed with breast cancer in December 2018 during her second pregnancy. At 18 weeks pregnant with her twin boys she underwent a mastectomy followed by six months of chemotherapy. She is now recovering well and enjoying juggling life as a part-time GP, wife, and mum to her three sons.

 

Mummy’s star supported Jenny throughout her pregnancy and recovery and she is delighted to be able to use her experience both as a patient and a GP to raise awareness of cancer and pregnancy.

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DAVID WRIGHT

Advisor 

(Oncology)

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David served as a Trustee on the Mummy's Star Board for 4 years before retiring his position in November 2022 to focus on a new role at The Christie; where he first worked on the Adult Leukaemia Unit in 1999.

 

In 2002 he moved as a staff nurse to the Young Oncology Unit where he stayed until 2009, eventually becoming the ward manager. The time on the YOU allowed David to develop his skills in working with Teenagers and Young Adults with cancer. In 2009 he became the first Teenage Cancer Trust TYA Lead Nurse to be appointed in the Merseyside and Cheshire Cancer Network. This was an exciting challenge to be working across a whole region to develop the TYA services and encourage a greater degree of involvement between the Principal Treatment Centre and the TYA Designated Hospitals. In 2012 David moved back to The Christie to become the Teenage Cancer Trust Lead Nurse for TYA’s for Greater Manchester, Cheshire, Lancashire and Cumbria region. This current role has the same remit as the previous lead nurse post but comes with the challenges of a much bigger area, different hospital configuration and a very different TYA team. David was part of the Teenage Cancer Trust Nursing and Support Pilot – Bridging the Gap, which won the Nursing Times inaugural HRH The Prince of Wales Award for Integrated Approaches to Care.

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David is involved in various national groups, including being the treasurer for Teenagers and Young Adults with Cancer (TYAC) and has been a Clinical Lead for an NHS Improving Quality workstream that was looking at end of treatment issues for TYA’s. He is also the Clinical Director for the Greater Manchester Cancer TYA Pathway Board.

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