Campaigner of the Year

Mikki Phipps for The Forgotten ‘C’ campaign

‘Mikki’s voice has been influential in achieving change for people living with cancer during the pandemic. She showed us all that we have a part to play in making change happen.’

The Campaign

Mikki Phipps, a volunteer Campaign Champion and Advisory Group Member with Macmillan Cancer Support, lives with heart, strength, and ambition.
Mikki began campaigning with Macmillan at the beginning of the pandemic, influencing their initial response by sharing the impact of Covid-19 on people living with cancer.

Since then, Mikki has been a phenomenal communicator whose voice has helped create change. She has spoken out powerfully on what it was like to be living with breast cancer during the pandemic, and how not having access to tailored support and information from cancer professionals affected her health.

Mikki played a huge role in the success of Macmillan’s Forgotten ‘C’ campaign, aiming to shine a light on the devastating impact the pandemic was having on cancer care and, in doing so, putting cancer firmly at the top of the news and the Government’s agenda.

awards

Mikki on her chemotherapy ward

I am so grateful to have been both nominated and shortlisted for Campaigner of the Year. I have been so proud to campaign with Macmillan and their team on the Forgotten ‘C’ campaign to highlight the impact that coronavirus has had, and still continues to have, on cancer care in the UK. It’s been a privilege to be able to share my experiences in order to make an impact on such a huge issue.”

Mikki

awards

Mikki on her chemotherapy ward

I am so grateful to have been both nominated and shortlisted for Campaigner of the Year. I have been so proud to campaign with Macmillan and their team on the Forgotten ‘C’ campaign to highlight the impact that coronavirus has had, and still continues to have, on cancer care in the UK. It’s been a privilege to be able to share my experiences in order to make an impact on such a huge issue.”

Mikki

The Change

Mikki has done incredible amounts for the campaign. She has told it like it is to politicians, rallied her followers to take action, influenced policy development, raised her voice in the press, and even hosted hundreds of people at online events. With warmth and compassion, she has helped campaigners with cancer connect with one another after a difficult year of shielding and uncertainty.

She gave strategic advice to Macmillan on a range of new communications and tactics to help engage supporters with the Forgotten ‘C’ campaign, connect them with their MPs in ‘Tea With Your MP’ virtual meetings, and raise awareness around the vital care and support that cancer nurses deliver.

Mikki’s ability to talk about deeply personal, sensitive issues helped to break down stigmas. These personal accounts are powerful in making the case for personalised cancer care to policy makers.

Macmillan strongly feels their Forgotten ‘C’ campaign would not have had such a significant impact without Mikki and people living with cancer mobilising as activists, advisers, spokespeople and volunteers.

Mikki’s voice has been influential in achieving change for people living with cancer during the pandemic and shows us all we have a part to play in making change happen.

The Future

Mikki continues to be a passionate advocate on behalf of people living with cancer, by speaking out, sharing her experiences, and inspiring others to take action.

Since the start of the pandemic, Macmillan’s Forgotten ‘C’ campaign calls for action to ensure people living with cancer have access to the vital care and support they need – most recently urging Governments across the UK to invest in enough specialist cancer nurses.

People with first-hand experience like Mikki continue to play an important role in shaping the campaign and inspiring others to raise their voices.

Who else was involved?

The Forgotten ‘C’ Campaign Champions, Advisory Group, and thousands of people living with cancer and Macmillan supporters taking action were central to The Forgotten ‘C’ campaign. Each deserves credit for making change happen for people living with cancer since the coronavirus pandemic began.