Our staff

Joy Felgate

Chief executive

Joy was appointed as chief executive of CHECT in March 2011. Prior to this she was with Samaritans as director of services and before that with the Alzheimer's Society as deputy director of branch services. Joy originally trained as a nurse and went on to specialise in intensive care nursing. She managed the intensive care unit for adults and children at Bedford Hospital for four years before taking a break from work to have her three children.

Contact Joy at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Julia Morris

Support worker

Julia is based in Birmingham and visits Birmingham Children's Hospital (BCH) where she makes contact with families having treatment for Rb. She works nationally, introducing new families to family contacts, linking old and new members, providing information and helping with any Rb-related matter. Julia also teaches pottery to special needs groups and works with her local community. She is still responsible for her local Millennium Green project but has retired from her boat building business.

Julia works for CHECT on Monday, Wednesday and Friday and can be contacted on 0121 708 0583 or by email at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Lesley Geen

Support worker

Lesley joined CHECT in August 2012 as a support worker based in the London office and visiting the Rb clinics at The Royal London Hospital. Her role is to make contact with families whose children are having treatment for Rb or undergoing screening, to offer support and to set up a support service for teenagers affected by Rb.

Prior to this Lesley worked for Barnardo’s as a children’s services manager in the East of England. Lesley’s background is in nursing, she worked mainly as a children’s nurse with many years nursing children with cancer at The Royal Marsden Hospital and in Cambridge.

In her spare time she enjoys singing with a local contemporary choir.

You can contact Lesley through our London Office on 020 7377 5578 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Julie Firth

Communications officer

Julie joined CHECT in August 2010 as our London-based support worker and in 2012 changed roles to concentrate on communications and raising awareness. She is also the trust's contact for press enquiries. Julie's daughter was diagnosed with Rb in 2007 and underwent enucleation just after her 2nd birthday. Julie's background is in journalism she has previously volunteered for the National Childbirth Trust, editing the branch newsletter and providing admin support for the Slough Deaf Centre. Julie enjoys gardening and spending time with her family.

Julie works for CHECT on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays and can be contacted on 020 7377 5578 or by email on This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Juliette Carter - Currently on maternity leave until March 2014

Information officer

Juliette Carter joined CHECT as a support worker/information officer in September 2006. As information officer Juliette is responsible for raising awareness of Rb amongst the public and with health professionals and others who come into contact with children or adults who have had the disease. Prior to taking this position with CHECT, Juliette worked as a senior parent advisor for the charity Contact a Family and has also worked at the Royal London Hospital as a children's nurse. Juliette enjoys drawing and Lindy Hop dancing in her spare time.

You can contact Juliette at our office in London on 020 7377 5578 and This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Juliette works for CHECT on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

Petra Maxwell

Information & Research Officer (Maternity Cover)

Petra Maxwell joined CHECT in 2013 as information and research officer to cover Juliette Carter’s maternity leave.  Petra is responsible for raising awareness of Rb with health professionals who come into contact with children who have the disease. Petra’s background is in charity communications, and she most recently worked at Action for Blind People as PR Manager.

Petra works Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday and can be contacted on 020 7377 5578 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Fiona Heath

Fundraising manager

Fiona Heath joined CHECT in April 2010 in the part-time role as fundraising manager. Fiona has enjoyed many years working for charities such as the RNLI and Tall Ships Youth Trust, having begun her career in sales and marketing. Fiona, who commutes from Petersfield said "I really enjoy working with CHECT's members and volunteers and am not only humbled by the amazing work done by this wonderful charity but also by the courage and boundless enthusiasm demonstrated by its supporters." In her spare time Fiona is a consultant for the UK's largest weight loss organisation and enjoys DIY, gardening and reading.

You can contact Fiona at our office in London on 020 7377 5578 and email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Ruth McLaren

Office Manager

Ruth joined CHECT in April 2012 as Office Manager and provides administrative support to the CHECT team and board of trustees, as well as assisting with information management, communications and organising events. Before joining CHECT Ruth has had several varied administrative roles, including some time spent at Myeloma UK, and has always been a passionate advocate for the third sector.

Ruth works Monday to Friday and can be contacted on 020 7377 5578 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.