Jo Williamson, a 74-year-old father from Blairgowrie, Perthshire, has been awarded an MBE in the King's Birthday Honours for his outstanding contribution as a campaigns ambassador for Cancer Research UK. His volunteering began in 1993 after his wife Sue was diagnosed with cancer, and he has since dedicated over three decades to the cause.
A Lifelong Commitment to Cancer Research
Jo's support for the charity has included starring in a UK-wide television campaign called 'I Pledge' in 2019. The campaign featured him hill walking at dawn on one of the coldest days of the year, encouraging people to leave a gift in their Will to help beat cancer. He appeared alongside nurses, doctors, and scientists in adverts, posters, and billboards.
Jo said: "I'm incredibly honoured and humbled to receive an MBE. I couldn't quite believe it when I first opened the letter. We've been fighting cancer on all fronts as a family for a very long time now."
Personal Tragedy and Family Impact
Jo's wife Sue died in December 2003 from a rare cancer called phaeochromocytoma. The family later discovered the cancer could be caused by a faulty SDH-B gene, with a 50/50 chance of inheritance. All four of Jo's children were tested: Katie (50) and Jonathan (48) do not carry the gene, but twins Jennie Chinembiri and James Williamson (both 45) have inherited it, increasing their cancer risk. One grandchild has also inherited the faulty gene.
In 2018, Jo founded the Phaeo and Para Cancer Charity to fund research into the faulty gene affecting his family. He has also played a pivotal role in advancing research into rare cancers.
Recognition and Continued Efforts
The Palace citation highlights his role as "campaigns ambassador, Cancer Research UK for charitable service." Jo, a constituent of Scotland's First Minister John Swinney, invited him to visit the Cancer Research UK Scotland Institute in Glasgow last spring. In 1994, Jo raised £100,000 in three months for Cancer Research UK by participating in the Medoc Marathon through the French countryside.
Michelle Mitchell, chief executive of Cancer Research UK, said: "Cancer Research UK's pioneering work into the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cancer has helped save millions of lives. That's only possible thanks to the commitment of our supporters and volunteers like Jo, without whom it would not be possible to fund outstanding scientists, clinicians and nurses."
