Sandra Vollrath

When my son was diagnosed with Medulloblastoma at nine years old, our family entered a bewildering world: We experienced outstanding and caring clinical care, felt the work of tirelessly working charities and yet also lived the fragmented reality cancer families face: unclear pathways, disjointed communication and the emotional toll of having to coordinate complex systems while trying to stay upright.

I know that it is vital for families to feel informed, included and genuinely supported, from the moment of diagnosis to way beyond treatment.

I am joining the North Star Cancer Collective's Lived Experience Advisory and Action Group to foster constructive change. My background in operations and systems design means I understand how large systems function and where they break.

I bring operational precision and human empathy: the ability to translate between professionals and families, to see patterns in chaos and to help design solutions that are compassionate and feasible.

I have long advocated for better coordination across health, education and social care for my own children and others. No family should have to “project-manage” their child’s cancer journey.

I hope to contribute a clear, calm, system-orientated perspective grounded in real life and help shape a future where every child and young person feels supported, understood and empowered from diagnosis onward.