At the same time as occasions round our world appear to turn out to be ever extra unfathomable, there’s nonetheless a really robust sense of that human spirit that surfaces usually sufficient to supply reassurances, not less than to me personally, as to what the longer term holds. I’ve labored for Cisco for over sixteen years now, usually in and round our companion neighborhood right here within the UK&I. To my thoughts, that Cisco Companion neighborhood could be very particular, and one which I really feel privileged to be a part of.
In 2017, a member of that neighborhood, Kevin Donaghy started an surprising journey. After 18 months of hospital visits, surgical procedures, and finally being cleared of melanoma pores and skin most cancers, Kevin acquired the devastating information, simply earlier than Christmas in 2019, that the most cancers had returned. He was recognized with stage 4 metastatic melanoma —an incurable and life-limiting situation.
As he started therapy, the world went into lockdown because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Already feeling remoted by his prognosis –Kevin didn’t know anybody else with melanoma –he was now additionally bodily separated from a lot of his help system.
A Level of Connection
Looking for connection, he started sharing his story in on-line help teams and met folks whose lives had been straight or not directly impacted by most cancers. By means of these conversations, he found that loneliness on the level of prognosis is a standard expertise amongst most cancers sufferers. This realization impressed him to write down ‘Tales of Most cancers and Hope,’ a e book that compiles 39 private tales, together with his personal, to assist others really feel much less alone.
The Energy of Partnership
Kevin was working for Ingram Micro UK and subsequently Comstor UK, two of Cisco’s largest distributors, on the time. He had robust relationships with lots of the tier 2 companions, Cisco Scotland, and the Cisco UKI companion group. When ‘Tales of Most cancers and Hope’ was printed, a lot of these companions together with Commsworld, IT Worx, 4MS, Softworx, Datavita, Barrier Networks, Simoda, and Intelys got here collectively and raised £21K to sponsor the distribution of his e book.
Ricky Nicol, founder and deputy chairman of Commsworld, is a most cancers survivor himself and was moved by Kevin’s mission. “What Kevin is doing is so inspirational,” Nicol shared. “I used to be delighted to contribute my very own story to his e book, and Commsworld is equally proud to have supplied the funds to get Tales of Most cancers and Hope printed.”
Nicol’s expertise with throat most cancers deeply impacted him and his enterprise. “Once I was recognized, most cancers was usually seen as a demise sentence. I used to be informed my possibilities of survival have been solely 50-50,” Nicol recalled. “However I recovered, and my most cancers journey ended up altering the route of the enterprise I ran for the higher.”
“Our contribution ensured that folks affected by most cancers have entry to tales that encourage and uplift, reminding them that they aren’t alone of their combat. We consider that these tales will make a significant distinction within the lives of many, offering power and solace in tough occasions.” Kathryn McMullan, Barrier Networks
By means of partnership and shared goal, Kevin was in a position to distribute and donate, without charge, over 7,500 copies of his e book, exceeding his preliminary goal of 1,000 copies, to 90 most cancers charities, help teams, and therapy facilities throughout the UK and Eire, together with 24 Maggie’s centres. Maggie’s is a nonprofit most cancers care supplier with a community of centres offering free sensible and emotional help to folks with most cancers and their households. Due to the fantastic work they do, Kevin additionally chosen Maggie’s to be the beneficiary of any proceeds from the sale of his e book, and raised consciousness of their impactful work on UK nationwide and native media channels.
“We’re so grateful to Kevin for selecting to help Maggie’s and for elevating consciousness of the care we provide. The donations have enabled Maggie’s to supply our important help to extra folks with most cancers and their households.” Adam Feder, Maggie’s Head of Company Partnerships
“All this could not have been potential with out the collaboration and sponsorship from my neighborhood of Cisco companions and different sponsors. I do know our e book helps folks not really feel alone, and I’m so grateful to everybody who gave their story, time, love, and sponsorship to this endeavor,” mentioned Kevin.
4 and a half years since his prognosis, Kevin is delighted to say that his most cancers is underneath management. “Though it’s life-limiting and incurable, my household and I’ve been given extra time to spend collectively and to take pleasure in life.”
It’s laborious to know precisely how anybody of us may resist such a life problem as Kevin, his household and associates, however by means of his story it’s clear not solely does he encourage that robust sense of human spirit and generosity, however he additionally teaches us one thing essential about all the time going through forwards.
Learn Kevin’s Tales of Most cancers and Hope and be part of this excellent endeavor!
Go to our SalesConnect website or electronic mail us at Partneringforpurpose@cisco.com
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