Tom’s Trust co-founder Deborah Mitchell is stepping away from the charity’s day-to-day work after helping establish it in 2011.
Mitchell, known as Debs, co-founded the Cambridge-based children’s brain tumour charity with Andrew Whitley following the death of their nine-year-old son, Tom, from a brain tumour.
She served as chief executive until 2021 and is now leaving day-to-day operations in the hands of chief executive Rebecca Wood and her team.
Mitchell said: “Tom’s Trust is a hugely important part of my life, and I’m incredibly proud of everything we have achieved together.
“It feels like the right time for me to take a break and I know the charity is in very good hands with Rebecca and the team.
“I’ll always be enormously grateful to everyone who has supported my journey with Tom’s Trust and helped me to turn our family’s experience into a positive change for so many others.”
Mitchell will take a short break and may later join the charity’s board of trustees.
Tom’s Trust was established to help other families access the specialist psychological support Mitchell and Whitley felt their own family had needed.
Charlotte Bester has recently joined as philanthropy lead after working closely with Mitchell.
Bester will lead work with major donors and philanthropists as Tom’s Trust delivers its Brighter Futures strategy, which aims to raise £5m over five years.
Wood said: “It’s difficult to overstate what Debs has given to Tom’s Trust.
“What began with Debs and Andrew’s determination to make things better for other families has grown into a national charity supporting children and families across the country.
“After giving so much to Tom’s Trust, this is a chance for Debs to take some time for herself. We are enormously grateful for everything she has done so far and the foundations she has created for our future.”
Mitchell said: “Tom’s Trust is a hugely important part of my life, and I’m incredibly proud of everything we have achieved together.
“It feels like the right time for me to take a break and I know the charity is in very good hands with Rebecca and the team.
“I’ll always be enormously grateful to everyone who has supported my journey with Tom’s Trust and helped me to turn our family’s experience into a positive change for so many others.”
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