Meet Our Ambassadors

Hana Hassanbek

Hana is a qualified lawyer and has over seven years experience in the legal sector, working both in private practice and in-house. Hana is an avid fundraiser and has raised money for a variety of charities over the years through completing various challenges. Through being introduced to Jane Dawson and Tasha Dawson in 2024, the Ella Dawson Foundation proudly became a charity partner for The Founder’s Playbook, a podcast that start-up founders came on to discuss their journey with the hope to inspire future entrepreneurs. As an Ambassador, Hana also ran the 2025 London Marathon on behalf of the Ella Dawson Foundation.

With Hana’s legal and business development background, Hana will be assisting the charity develop their business development plan and is excited to help expand the charity’s outreach and corporate partnerships.

Dr Stewart Manning

I am a retired General Practitioner, having worked in South Leeds for most of my career. During that time, I also served as Medical Officer to Leeds United AFC from 1978 to 1990 and delivered Occupational Health Services to a variety of West Yorkshire businesses.

Although I retired in 2012, I badly missed contact with people. This led me to continue being involved in community and health-related work. I was an Ambassador for The Robert Sinclair Davidson Foundation for four years before becoming a Trustee and Chairman of a local charity, The Yorkshire Cancer Community. Through this role, I help deliver a programme called CANCER SMART, which educates people about cancer screening, healthy living, and the importance of knowing your own body.

Cancer has affected me deeply throughout my life - through family, friends, and many of my patients. Because of this, I also volunteer and fundraise for my local hospice in Leeds, St Gemma’s, and support the work of Macmillan and Pancreatic Cancer UK.

Yorkshire Cancer Community is funded by the Harrogate and West Yorkshire Cancer Alliance. It was during a Teams meeting that I first met Tasha Dawson, who is a lay member of the Board. After the meeting, I looked up the Ella Dawson Foundation, of which Tasha is a founder and Trustee. I was so impressed by their work helping young adults aged 18 to 30 with cancer that I contacted them straight away to arrange a meeting.

In February this year, I volunteered at their Ball. When I met up again with Tasha and Jane, they invited me to work with the Ella Dawson Foundation as an Ambassador. I accepted immediately, as the help given by this charity resonates with the difficulties I faced as a GP looking after a young man with cancer 25 years ago - when there were no organisations offering holistic support to this age group.

I feel I can bring my enthusiasm and experience to this charity.

My ethos is:

“One person cannot change the world, but anyone can change the world for one person.”

The Ella Dawson Foundation changes the world for many young adults with cancer.

Ellie Birkinshaw

Young Adult Ambassador

In February 2022 at the age of 25, I was diagnosed with Hodgkin Lymphoma. I underwent 5 cycles of Chemotherapy at Huddersfield Royal Infirmary, which put me into remission in July 2022. However, the tell tale symptoms of blood cancer returned soon after and on the 20th December 2022, I relapsed with Hodgkin Lymphoma.

Second time round I had a Stem Cell Transplant and was treated at St. James’ Hospital in Leeds. Being my own donor, I harvested my Stem Cells and had my transplant on 14th March 2023. This was followed by 15 sessions of Radiotherapy; finally getting the all clear on 10th August 2023. As well as myself being diagnosed with cancer twice, My Fiancé Joshua has been diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukaemia twice under the age of 30 - knowing how it feels from both sides; patient and loved one.

I unfortunately never met Ella. However, part way through my cancer journey, Ella’s sister Natasha reached out to me and brought me into the Ella Dawson Foundation family. Ella’s story and all the wonderful things she did is a true inspiration to me. Now I am in a position to, I want to share my story by giving back and helping young adults going through their cancer journey.

Alexandra Simpson

Young Adult Ambassador

Alex is a corporate lawyer from Nottingham and based in London. Like Ella, Alex was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia whilst living abroad in 2019. Alex met Ella online while they were both going through treatment and, together with their mutual friend Lily, they supported each other through the highs and lows of cancer treatment as a young adult. Alex had a stem cell transplant in February 2020 and continues to support various charities including Anthony Nolan, The Christie Charity, Leukaemia Care and the Ella Dawson Foundation. She is passionate about supporting young adults both during and after treatment for cancer and firmly believes in the importance of nutrition, exercise and living as well as possible as a supplement to medical treatment. In her spare time, Alex enjoys music, running, gym classes and trying out new restaurants.

Lily Whitmarsh

Young Adult Ambassador

Lily was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia in September 2019 and after six months of chemotherapy and radiotherapy, endured a Bone Marrow Transplant at Southampton Hospital in March 2020. She met Ella shortly after her diagnosis via an online cancer support group and alongside Alex, the three of them shared every moment of their treatment and adaptation to life as young adults living with with the disease. From the day they met, Lily remembers Ella to be a positive and radiant pillar of strength which gave her a plethora of encouragement throughout her treatment. Psychological support and connecting with others who truly understand a cancer diagnosis is something that Lily has always been passionate about and she believes strongly contributes to her wellbeing. Nearly two years on from her Allogeneic transplant, she continues to support Anthony Nolan and the Teenage Cancer Trust and with the Ella Dawson Foundation she shares her story in the hope that it will one day help others in a similar situation. Lily lives in Dorset and in her spare time can be found eating, socialising or working on her fitness and recovery.

Paul Bryce

"I first heard about The Ella Dawson Foundation in 2021 through mutual friends. Straight away, I was drawn to Ella's story, what the charity stood for and the difference it was making for young adults living with a cancer diagnosis.

Since then, running has become my main way of showing support. I’ve taken on events including The Great North Run, Manchester Half Marathon, and the London Marathon—each one a chance not only to challenge myself, but also to raise awareness and funds for a cause that means a lot to me.

What really inspires me to stay involved is the resilience and passion of Ella’s parents, Kevin and Jane, and her sister, Tasha. The strength they’ve shown, along with the Foundation’s ambitions and ethos, is simply incredible.

As an ambassador, I want to bring my energy and determination to help spread the word, support fundraising, and play a small part in carrying Ella’s legacy forward."

Debbie Petch

I’m Debbie and have been friends with Jane, Ella’s mum, ever since our first day at uni many years ago. Over the years my family and I spent many a happy day with the Dawsons and we feel so lucky and privileged to have known and spent time with Ella. Ella was truly an inspiration to us all and I will never forget her unbelievable strength and positivity despite her cruel diagnosis. I know how important it was for her to try to help young people with cancer and I am sure she would be unbelievably proud of what the Foundation has achieved since its inception. I am so proud to support the charity in whatever small way I can and am so happy to see it going from strength to strength.”

Alex Mason

Fundraising Volunteer

Alex has been volunteering with the foundation for a number of months now and is busy helping to develop the charity aswell as raising funds and awareness for the Ella Dawson Foundation. Alex also worked with his amazing colleagues at Charlton Morris to nominate Ella Dawson Foundation as its charity of the year for 2022, our first corporate partner, and is one of our intrepid team cycling London to Paris in July.

"I first met Ella at Newcastle University in 2015, living in the same flat and part of the same, large group of friends. Since leaving university I am now a Business Manager for the recruitment firm Charlton Morris, which is proudly the Foundation’s first Corporate Sponsor! Although losing a friend, watching my friends grieve, and a close friend lose their partner would be motivation enough to get involved with the Foundation, it was how Ella was so strong during her fight with Cancer, and how she tried to help others that really inspired me. The Foundation is continuing the great work she already did and it’s wonderful to see!"

Thanks Alex for your amazing support!

Alex Szarko

Charity Ambassador

We are super excited that Alex is part of our growing team! Alex has worked hard and showed his skills in his role as Project Lead for the CoachELLA music festival 2022, helping create an outstanding day bringing our community together to celebrate the very best of music, arts, and wellbeing and raising money for the Ella Dawson Foundation.