Mo Cottrell is a retired nurse who underwent a 5 week course of Chemoradiotherapy followed by successful surgery for Oesophageal Cancer at Southampton General Hospital in January 2017. Throughout that period, she participated in the tailored exercise training programme, The Encourage Trial.

She is now a member of a local support group: SPICOS (Support for People Impacted by Cancer of the Oesophagus and Stomach). Under this umbrella, the ‘Buddy Scheme’ was initiated.

A ‘Buddy’ is a volunteer who has been in a similar situation and has agreed to be a point of contact for patients and their families, to offer reassurance and support.