A Midlands-founded charity which supports people nationwide living with head and neck cancer has appointed a new trustee.
Robert Spittle, managing director of Guest Motor Group – one of the country’s largest commercial vehicle dealers with 15 sites including Birmingham, Coventry, Wolverhampton and West Bromwich – has been made a trustee of the Get A-Head Charitable Trust.
The charity works to improve the quality of life for patients with head and neck diseases, particularly cancer, primarily by funding research, high-tech equipment and education.
It works with NHS Trusts, treatment centres, research facilities and support groups up and down the country and is currently celebrating its 30th anniversary.
Tom Bromwich, chair of trustees, said Robert was a welcome addition to the board as the charity looks to strengthen its impact in 2025 and beyond.
He said:
“We are absolutely delighted to welcome Robert onto the board of trustees. His professional expertise and personal experiences will be invaluable as we continue to grow the organisation and maximise our impact over the coming years.
“Robert has been involved with Get A-Head on and off for many years. In fact, his stepmother, Val Spittle, was the very first administrator of the charity when it was formed.
“On a personal note, we were also able to provide support to Robert and his family when his father was diagnosed with cancer in 2005, and he’s been a part of our fundraising committee for the last 20 years, so he knows the charity well.”
Robert, who as well as running a successful business, is also a proud family man and a Juryman at Bromsgrove Court Leet, joins Tom and six other trustees at the helm of the charity.
He said:
“Get A-Head has been close to my heart for many years so I’m very honoured to take on the role of trustee and I’m looking forward to being able to make a difference to people living with head and neck diseases, particularly cancer.
“Every day more than 34 people in the UK alone are diagnosed with head and neck cancer yet it has one of the longest treatment waiting times and this is a situation which needs to change urgently.
“I’m looking forward to supporting the board and the wider Get A-Head team as we continue to campaign for change and drive greater awareness of head and neck cancer.”
Over the last 30 years, Get A-Head has raised more than £10 million and has supported numerous small and large projects across the UK.
The charity is completely dependent on donations and the generous support of sponsors at its fundraising events.
Next month, it will host its 30th-anniversary fundraising ball in Birmingham.
For more information about Get A-Head and its work visit the website: https://getahead.org.uk/.
