End of an Era

On 7th August 2023 our President and founder, Jacqui Phillips, decided it was time to step away from her role as President. We are not losing her experience as she will remain as a Trustee. Since we began in 1999 Jacqui has been an integral part of MABS turning her hand to whatever was required to support those with cancer. It´s true to say that since we became a Foundation in 2017 the workload increased significantly but Jacqui rose to the challenge to ensure MABS remained fully compliant with the various legal requirements we had to abide by, but this additional office work took her away from the front line and as those who know Jacqui would agree, this is simply not her style. Her achievements are tremendous and have been recognised at the highest level by the award of an MBE in 2005. We now operate five shops and five care centres across a wide geographic area and our own Respite Home in Mazarrón. This now raises the funds required to support around 400 cancer patients annually with counselling and practical needs like travel to hospital appointments, medical translation services, equipment loans and nursing.

 Jacqui had made us aware several years ago that this day was coming, but putting all the elements of a succession plan in place was not easy, and further complicated by the Covid era. However, the last part of this succession plan dropped into place in June this year when we were delighted to welcome Mark Love to the team as Group Treasurer. Mark is a qualified Accountant and ideally placed to take over the reins from our current Treasurer, Bev Thompson, who has managed the MABS finances for the past 13 years.

Bev will now become President of the organisation. She is already very well known in Costa Calida where she has for a long time been the senior MABS representative, and the driving force behind expanding our activities in CC including establishing our own Respite Home at Camposol and obtaining official collaboration with the Murcia Health Service for MABS Costa Calida team. She has also already received a British government honour, the BEM for her work with MABS and will now bring this energy to the entire MABS organisation.

We are also delighted to announce an expansion of our Board of Trustees with the appointment of Oscar Anton, an Abogado based in Javea.

So we operate going forwards with five trustees, Bev, Jacqui, Thelma Dunn (our long serving secretary who carries on in this role), Mark and Oscar. They are supported by Regional Coordinators focused on Operations (Mike Downie and Karin van Hooton for CC and Hilary Bowick for CB) and Finance (Bonny Horne for CC and Irena Bodnarec for CB). And then each care centre and shop has its own fantastic team too numerous to mention, but contact details are on the website www.mabscancerfoundation.org.

Finally, returning to the key subject of this announcement, we would all like you to join us in paying tribute to Jacqui and to thank her for her incredible work over the past 24 years, it´s true to say we wouldn´t be here if it wasn´t for you!