who are we?
What motivates us?
The word cancer and the smell of hospitals filled me with fear so I carefully avoided them for 20 years.
Caroline Leek (Founder)
Fruitfly Collective is a team of experts who are either living with cancer or providing cancer care or parenting support.
My Dad died of cancer after a very short illness. As a twelve year old I didn’t know about grief, or how to feel or behave – I just copied adults around me. They seemed to stop talking about Dad so I did too. But the problem is you can’t out run grief, it catches up with you in the end. I set up Fruitfly Collective to help families talk about cancer, death and grief, and to support children by giving them coping tools and knowledge that they are not alone.
Meet the Team
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dr caroline leek
Fruitfly Collective founder. Lives in London with two teenagers. Churchill Fellow 2024.
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Penny Phillips
Founder of the The Parent Village. Qualified coach and lives in London with two teenagers
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Steering Committee
The Parenting with Cancer project steering committee.
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Steering committee
Parenting with Cancer project steering committee.
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Dr Jacqueline Coleman
HISTOPATHOLOGIST
Jackie is a NHS Consultant Histopathologist, specialising in women cancers.
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EMMA SWINHOE
ILLUSTRATOR
Emma is a London based illustrator. www.emmaswinhoe.com
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DAPHNE VANDEN BORRE
GRAPHIC DESIGNER
Daphne is a London based Graphic designer. And a yoga teacher!
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HAZEL NICHOLLS
ILLUSTRATOR
Hazel is an illustrator living in Northern Ireland. @hazelcjnicholls
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LUCY WALLACE
PHOTOGRAPHER
Lucy is a photographer and therapist based in Devon. lucywallacephotography.com
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SONJA FRIEDRICH-LIEBENBERG
WEB DESIGNER
Sonja lived in London and is Creative Director of Sausage Dog Design.
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Izzy Warren
TEACHER
Izzy is a London based primary school teacher.
Partners, Funders and SUPPORTERS
Without their support we could not do the work we are doing.
Health and Advisory Team
Our advisory team is made up of experts in the fields of healthcare (nurses, oncology consultants, psychologists, palliative care nurses), social care and family therapy, science and science communication, policy, academic research and education.
Collaborators and Partnerships
Collaboration is a key part of how Fruit Fly Collective operates. We are proud to have multiple partnerships with many organisations including NHS Trusts and hospices across the UK, and national and local cancer charities.
