About Our Charity
Mary How 1941-1987
Mary was born in Victoria, Australia, and emigrated as a young woman to the UK, where she met and married Raymond How. Mary and Raymond had two children, Jeremy and Victoria, and lived in West Chiltington in West Sussex, where they had many friends.
Mary was diagnosed with bowel cancer in 1984 and despite a brave battle against the disease she died in 1987, at the early age of 46.
Raymond How described Mary as a “super person, who was so brave in adversity, who gave so much love, warmth and happiness to so many, wherever she set foot and to whomever she befriended.” He said that people from all walks of life were captivated by her Aussie charm.
Mary’s son, Jeremy, explains that “on the night my mother died her GP and my father founded The Mary How Trust, an organisation they hoped would allow the early detection of malignant and other diseases”.
Early detection could have saved Mary’s life. We’re passionate about screening as many people as possible and catching illness at the most treatable stages.
The Mary How Trust for Cancer Prevention was founded in June 1988. (Our Registered Charity Number is 1122393.)
As well as screening for bowel cancer, the Mary How Trust looks for the early signs of many other life-threatening illnesses such as prostate and kidney cancer, heart disease and diabetes. And we’re here to listen to your health concerns, and offer lifestyle guidance to help you stay well. Read more about our health screening service.
The Mary How Trust is run by paid employees and volunteers. Our volunteers include our president, patrons and trustees/directors, as well as the many volunteers at our screening rooms, charity shop and at all our fundraising events. We feel blessed to have such wonderful support from the local and wider community. Learn how you can make a difference by getting involved.
The Mary How Trust is a Charitable Company Limited by Guarantee registered in England and Wales. Registered Company No: 06324356
Our trustee/directors have responsibility to ensure compliance with company law as well as the rules of the Charity Commission.
Our board ensures the Trust is well-governed and is transparent in all its affairs, and provides the Trust with a wide range of skills: medical, marketing, finance, human resources, business and experience of other, larger charities.
The board formally meets twice a year, and trustees who live locally assist the charity in an executive capacity on a regular basis.
We are registered with the Fundraising Regulator, and agree to ensure our fundraising is legal, open, honest and respectful. Read our Fundraising Promise, which outlines our commitment to donors and the public.
