As we reach the end of our 25 year celebrations during which time MABS has grown into a Foundation that helps approximately 400 cancer patients a year thanks to the efforts and dedication of a similar number of volunteers.
We operate six care facilities, five shops and seven vehicles to achieve this across the Costa Blanca and Costa Calida.
It is thanks to the vision and foresight of our founder, Jacqui Phillips, that all this happens today and in 2005, that vision and determination was recognised by the late Queen Elizabeth II who awarded Jacqui a very well deserved M.B.E.
Now, after 25 years, Jacqui will leave the day to day role of a Trustee, and is considering becoming an Ambassador for the Foundation. Her experience and public profile will still be helping us continue and evolve the work of MABS.
At the same time, Thelma Dunn is also retiring as our Secretary on the Trustee Board after ten years of great service. Thelma has already extended her tenure several times until we could find a suitable replacement and has also agreed to stay close to MABS to ensure an orderly transition.
These changes are only possible as we have two strong replacements ready to step in, with an effective date of 1 December 2024.
• Derek Willis will take over as Secretary on the Trustee Board. In his previous working life, he held various corporate governance and accountancy roles. He is already familiar with MABS after helping at events in the Javea area.
• Jeremy Newhall joins the Trustee Board. He is the founder of a Murcia based medical translations business, in addition to being a long time Spanish resident / speaker and very familiar with the Spanish medical system.
The Trustee Board will thus comprise of Beverley Thompson BEM (President), Derek Willis (Secretary), Mark Love (Treasurer), Jeremy Newhall and Oscar Anton.
We believe this evolution brings the necessary new perspectives to the Trustee Board, whilst preserving our collective experience and positioning us for continued growth of the Foundation. Thanks to our fabulous volunteers, our shops are achieving ever higher income levels, which are supplemented by an expanding number of events and donations. However, these are balanced by the continued increase in demand for support to cancer patients.
So, our heartfelt thanks go to our retiring Trustees, we welcome in our new Trustees, and above all we thank all our volunteers for their continued support without which the Foundation would not exist.
