Dame Laura Lee

Maggie’s was the vision of Maggie Keswick Jencks, who had an idea for a different type of cancer care as she lived with advanced cancer for two years. She died in 1995, but Dame Laura Lee, Maggie’s nurse and friend, worked with Maggie’s family to ensure her vision became a reality.

Dame Laura has now been CEO of Maggie’s for 28 years and oversees a network of cancer care centres providing emotional and practical support to individuals and families affected by cancer across the UK and beyond. The idea behind Maggie’s is to create spaces unlike usual hospital architecture and environments, leaving you feeling better than when you arrived.

With the support of more than £3 million in National Lottery funding, Laura has been instrumental in expanding Maggie’s from a single centre in Edinburgh, to a network of 24 centres across the UK, and 4 international locations. Under her leadership, Maggie’s now welcomes over 300,000 visits a year and supports 32% of newly diagnosed cancer sufferers, offering them a place of solace, support, and a sense of control during the most challenging times of their lives.

Dame Laura Lee said: “When people walk through our doors, they’re often facing the toughest moments of their lives. Getting a cancer diagnosis is like being thrown out of the aeroplane behind enemy lines. You've got no compass, no map, and the role of Maggie's it to help people put their own individual map together and help by being their compass through that."

"Thanks to National Lottery funding, we’re able to offer them a place where they can regain a sense of control, feel heard, and find a bit of hope. It’s about more than just surviving—it’s about living fully, even in the face of uncertainty. Seeing the difference we make, knowing we’re helping people find joy in the present, that’s what drives me. And with the continued support of institutions like The National Lottery, we’ll keep expanding this lifeline, reaching more people who need it.”