World Cancer Research Fund’s Survivorship Programme Manager recognised for her work to encourage healthy eating among people living with and beyond cancer.
Melissa Mogor, World Cancer Research Fund’s Survivorship Programme Manager, has won the 2022 British Nutrition Foundation Drummond Community Award for her work to encourage healthy eating among people living with and beyond cancer.
Announced at an award ceremony in London on 15 November 2022, Melissa received her award for setting up and running online cookery classes for people with cancer.
After World Cancer Research Fund identified that the nutritional needs of cancer survivors were often unmet, Melissa started co-hosting online classes with oncology dietitians to help people with cancer eat well by joining in a live cook-along session.
The cook-alongs empower people to create healthy meals at home and give them the knowledge and confidence to try new flavours. The cook-alongs also help to combat the isolation many cancer patients feel.
> You can sign up to take part in the cook-alongs here
The classes have been part-funded by awards from the following trusts:
Melissa said:
I’m elated to have won the first ever British Nutrition Foundation Drummond Community Award, which recognises excellence and outstanding performance contributions to healthier eating in vulnerable groups.
Melissa added:
“This was awarded for my work on the amazing cook-along classes with World Cancer Research Fund, which have been designed for anyone living with and beyond cancer and experiencing taste changes. Each class demonstrates a way of implementing sustainable, healthier, food-related behaviour changes into everyday life during and after cancer, and provides continuous valuable support for anyone affected by cancer.
“I worked with key members of the cancer community to get an insight and understanding into the cancer care pathway. This included oncology specialists, people living both with and beyond cancer, and loved ones. By doing so, I was able to identify a crucial need and work with key stakeholders to fulfil this need and provide sought-after support for anyone affected by cancer. I’ve been involved with this project from inception through to delivery and evaluation, and have been working on ways to make these classes even better!
“When living with and beyond any non-communicable disease, it’s easy to overlook food as a pivotal part of maintaining a healthy quality of life, and supporting clinical treatment and recovery – especially after treatment has ended. Winning this award will hopefully drive more people to fund these life-changing classes.
“A HUGE thank you to British Nutrition Foundation for the recognition and support of this important work, and to World Cancer Research Fund for providing a platform for these classes and many other forms of research and health information. I feel honoured to have received this award and hope I can motivate others to start or keep thinking about what they can do to help people from vulnerable and disadvantaged groups.”
The British Nutrition Foundation Drummond Community Award is granted to projects that demonstrate community work in the UK to try to support healthier eating in vulnerable groups.
