Charity Information

Our Trustees

Laura Ashurst – Chair

Laura Ashurst has been an active voluntary cancer campaigner since 2010 when she became a Cancer Campaigns Ambassador for Cancer Research UK for the Richmond (Yorks) constituency. Within that role she has been part of a campaign team that has helped to influence policy and legislative change at a national level, working on campaigns such as A Voice for Radiotherapy, Test Cancer Sooner and Shoulder to Shoulder Against Cancer.

She has been involved in campaigning work for Breast Cancer Now and also a volunteer speaker for Breast Cancer Care prior to them merging with Breast Cancer Now in 2019. Laura is also an Ambassador/administrator for the Building Resilience in Breast Cancer Centre. Between 2020 and 2025, she was the Patron for the Trinity Holistic Centre at The James Cook University Hospital.

Laura received a Prime Minister’s Point of Light Award in November 2022 in recognition of her exceptional services for over a decade of campaigning for women with metastatic (secondary) breast cancer. Working closely with her MP, Rishi Sunak, she helped to secure the first post, in January 2023, for a clinical nurse specialist at South Tees Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. Subsequently, Laura set up Secondary Matters at the Trust, a monthly support group for people facing the challenges of a metastatic breast cancer diagnosis. She has personally supported hundreds of women since 2001 when she was first diagnosed with primary breast cancer. Over a period of 24 years, she has volunteered her time and lived experience to support people who are diagnosed with breast cancer, helping them to feel less alone

Laura has worked as a volunteer for METUPUK since 2021, becoming a Trustee in April 2025 and bacame Chair for the Charity in January 2026.

Emma Smith

Emma got in touch with METUPUK shortly after her younger sister was diagnosed with MBC just days before Christmas in 2021. Emma felt that METUPUK was like finding a glimmer of light in the darkest days of her family’s lives. She emabarked on a fundraising campaign with friends and family and in December 2022 donated £25,000 to METUPUK. Emma was delighted to be invited to join the Charity as Fundraising Trustee in 2023. She looks after all aspects of fundraising as well as running the Charity’s Friends and Family Support Group.

Kat Southwell

Phil Southwell

Phil first became involved in METUPUK in early 2023 through his wife Kat, an Inflammatory Breast Cancer patient who began volunteering with the Charity in 2022. Initially as a volunteer, he helped manage IT. However, after Connie Johncock, the original Finance Trustee, died, Phil was asked if he would become the Finance Trustee. Since November 2023, Phil’s remit has expanded to include procurement (related to contracts and other purchasing matters), together with a continuing role in managing the Charity’s technology requirements.

With a background of over 45 years working in finance and IT, both as an employee within large organisations and latterly running his own company, Phil’s broad range of skills help to ensure that the Charity is kept on a secure financial footing, and to offer advice in financial and IT matters.

Dr Helen Steele

Sue Thomas

METUPUK (Metastatic Exchange To Unleash Power United Kingdom) is a registered charity in England and Wales.  Registered charity number – 1196494 and registered with the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (SCO55472). Registered office – 4 West End Barns, West End, Northwold, Thetford, Norfolk IP26 5NE.