Pete Wallroth

Mummy's Star is the only charity in the UK and Ireland which provides cancer support in and around Pregnancy, Birth, Loss and Beyond More specifically the charity focuses on supporting families where the mother/birthing person: • is diagnosed or treated for cancer during her pregnancy; • is diagnosed or treated for cancer within a year of her giving birth; • dies because of a cancer diagnosis in either of the above time periods Our work is done through five main strands • Facilitating peer support in a supervised setting via the use of administrated internet forums for affected women/birthing people, their partners and wider family members. Also, where appropriate, providing support for affected women/birthing people individually via email, phone, Facebook and occasionally in person, thereby reducing isolation. • Providing a one stop shop for advice on cancer diagnosis in pregnancy including links to localised services. • Advocacy on behalf of the families which can be anything from bringing in further support by working with other organisations through to support at medical appointments, to Benefits advice. Through we also employment rights advice. • Small grants for families which could be for anything which is deemed as supporting the family such as paying for a support carer/nanny to help in the house, payment to make up for unpaid leave taken by a partner to support at home above and beyond the allowances of paternity and travel costs. This is not an exhaustive list • Education and awareness; providing awareness sessions to health professionals and lectures at universities about cancer and pregnancy to fill information gaps in current training and curriculum provision