I joined WICCI in January 2022, I am involved in lots of community voluntary organisations including being a Children’s Panel member, the chair of the Nicolson Institute Parent Council and the treasurer of Swim Western Isles. My background is in Rural Development but I have had time off raising my family and living overseas in Azerbaijan and Indonesia. We are settled back at home in Stornoway and enjoying being close to our families again. It’s very rewarding to be working at WICCI and with the trustees who are so committed to supporting people on their cancer journey.
Deirdre Steele
I’m Deirdre Steele from Lochboisdale, South Uist where I live with my husband and young son.
I work part-time with WICCI as the Uist & Barra Co-ordinator.
Now is a really exciting time to be working with WICCI as the charity is growing and extending the levels of services it can provide.
I was diagnosed with breast cancer in the middle of lockdown in 2020. I travelled regularly to the mainland for my treatment which included surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, bone strengthener infusions and now, ongoing hormone therapy. I understand first hand the grief and distress of a cancer diagnosis along with the additional stress, worry and cost of having to travel away from home for treatment.
I am extremely grateful for the support I received from WICCI and MacMillan Cancer Support as well as other cancer support charities so I am now delighted to support the work of WICCI in my co-ordinator role. I welcome the opportunity to give something back and use my skills and experience to help improve the cancer journey for patients and their families in Uist & Barra.
Norah Macphee
I joined WICCI in November 2024. Prior to that I worked for Western Isles Citizens Advice Service, where I gained a lot of knowledge and experience that I hope will be of benefit to WICCI and their service users.
I was brought up in Benbecula but moved to Stornoway in the early 90s, where I live with my partner and a variety of pets.
I’m best known for my ever changing hair colours and collection of Irregular Choice shoes and bags.
I’m looking forward to assisting Caroline and working with my colleagues to support cancer patients and their families in the Western Isles.
Sandra Mackinnon
My name is Sandra MacKinnon. I am originally from Eriskay, but live in Benbecula, happily, with my two daughters and dog.
I previously worked with the NHS, within the School Nursing Team, and I am also a qualified Makeup Artist.
I joined WICCI in November 2024 and feel very fortunate to be involved with such a fantastic Charity, and being able to support people through the uncertainty a cancer diagnosis holds.
Marina Macrae
I live in Vatisker, Back with my husband and 3 grown up children. Before joining the WICCI Team I had been working as a support for learning assistant in Sgoil a`Bhac for about 18 years and it was a huge privilege to support children in my role as an Support For Learning Assistant for all those years.
I have been teaching exercise classes twice a week for around 30 years and have been interested in fitness, health, and wellbeing for most of my adult life looking for ways to encourage people to engage in exercise and its benefits.
In my spare time I enjoy making sourdough bread and walking my 2 dogs.
It is a huge privilege to be working with the fantastic team here at WICCI and look forward to being able to support people on their cancer journey.
Iain Macaulay
Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Western Isles Cancer Care Initiative (WICCI)
Brought up in the crofting village of Sollas, North Uist. Now retired from a career in social work after working for Strathclyde Regional Council, Church of Scotland Board of Social Responsibility and Comhairle nan Eilean. Now living in Upper Coll, married with two children and five grandchildren. Cancer has affected my family, friends and colleagues over many years and I have also seen its impact on others through my social work career. These experiences make me very keen to give my support to the great work of WICCI and Macmillan.
Andrew Sim
Vice-Chair of the Board of Trustees of Western Isles Cancer Care Initiative (WICCI)
I was a consultant surgeon for 29 years, latterly in the Western Isles Hospital. My particular areas of interest was in large bowel disease, so much of my surgical work was with patients with colorectal cancer. I was the Lead Clinician for cancer for NHS Western Isles and the Lead Clinician for the Western Isles large bowel cancer screening programme. Having worked in the NHS with patients suffering from cancer, I recognised that in addition to the difficulties faced from the disease itself, other problems arise. Some of these relate to the remote and rural environment we live in, many of these problems can be helped with financial support. WICCI is designed to provide help for people and their families at a time when they need it, and this community based philanthropy is something that makes a real difference.
I have developed specific and particular interest in how health care services are delivered to remote and rural communities. I have also served on a number of Scottish Government working groups producing reports on hospital services in the more isolated areas of the country.
I am the President of the Rotary Club of Stornoway and the Secretary of the Isle of Lewis Probus Club.
I have significant experience in Project Management, having been involved in a number of local and international projects.
Aoife Macrae
I’m Aoife, I’m a born and bred Stornoway girl. I graduated with a BSc(hons) in Radiotherapy and Oncology. I was a Senior Therapeutic Radiographer in the Cancer Centre in Carlisle, delivering radiotherapy to patients so my background is in cancer and it’s treatment.
I worked with WICCI from November 2024 to August 2025 as an Improving the Cancer Journey Link Worker. I’ve now gone back to clinical practice in Raigmore Hospital but have enjoyed my time at WICCI so made the decision to come on board as a Trustee at the AGM in September 2025. I’m looking forward to continuing to work with the staff and fellow Trustees to support people in the Western Isles affected by cancer.
Don Maclean
My name is Don MacLean, I’m married to Pat, and living in Knock, Point. Before retiring I was employed as Outdoor Learning Manager with the Comhairle’s Sport & Health Section.
The 12th November 2013 is a date that will always stick in my mind. It was on this date that I was told that I had stomach cancer. To say I was in shock is an understatement. I was just two weeks into retirement and that was not what I had imagined retirement to look like! I was very lucky to have successful surgery and chemotherapy to treat the cancer.
Very soon after I was diagnosed, I received a letter/invitation from the Hebridean Men’s Cancer Support Group, informing me of their support and meeting times. It was only after I had gone through chemotherapy I decided to go. I wish I had gone earlier though. I have found going to the Hebridean Men’s Cancer Group to be beneficial, very supportive and feel it has benefited my recovery both physically and psychologically.
Since then I have become an active member of the Hebridean Men’s Cancer Group as Secretary and now as Vice-Chair. It is a wonderful group, meeting every Friday but providing support and friendship at any time.
I was also involved for 3 years in the Macmillan Cancer Support Scotland Involvement Group – to try and demonstrate and communicate some of the issues associated with living with a cancer diagnosis when living in a remote community.
I never would have imagined my retirement looking like this! But in many respects my skills and knowledge gained in my working career have been instrumental in my new mission to help as many people as I can through their cancer journey, hopefully trying to make it a little easier as they go through treatment.
I joined WICCI in 2019 and have enjoyed contributing to the project and being a link between the Hebridean Men’s Group and WICCI.
Mabel Macleay
I was born in Glasgow of Lewis parents; my mum from Back and my dad from New Tolsta. We moved back to live in Lewis when I was about 8. I am married to John and live in Stornoway. I work for the Care & Repair project in Tighean Innse Gall. In 1991, I joined the MacMillan Cancer Support committee and I have been a fundraiser for them ever since. One of the highlights for us was when we learned that we had raised over £1 million since the committee started and this money has helped to support many in our community who have been given a cancer prognosis. I am really proud of what we have achieved in setting up the new WICCI service, in partnership with MacMillan Cancer Support, and honoured to be a co-founder trustee. This is the first time this has been undertaken.
