Kevin Donaghy, cancer survivor, author and channel guru has re-joined Ingram Micro to work with Cisco partners, making this his third time working for the Milton Keynes distributor, and has also written a book based on his and others’ cancer experiences.
Having left Ingram in January 2020 after a life-changing cancer diagnosis, Kevin has recovered from incurable stage 4 Melanoma and found time to write a book to help other people affected by cancer. Stories of Cancer and Hope features 39 personal stories from people directly and indirectly affected by cancer including patients, carers and medical professionals. Kevin’s story is included and the book also features stories from people in the channel who wanted to help others to not feel alone and covers a range of cancers.
Kevin’s story follows his diagnosis in December 2019, the heartache of having to tell his wife, children, family and friends before Christmas and, just six weeks into treatment, having to shield during Covid. Kevin admits that his mental health was severely affected as he didn’t know if the treatment would work and if he’d be able to hug his mother and sisters or if he’d live to see the end of Covid restrictions. Being able to find an online melanoma community gave Kevin hope and this was the inspiration for Stories of Cancer and Hope.
Sponsorship
Having spent 30 years working with IT partners, Kevin was able to lean on his relationships with them to seek sponsorship for the book, and he initially wanted to donate 1,000 copies to cancer charities and treatment centres across the UK and Ireland. Due to demand, he has now donated 8,000 copies to more than 90 cancer organisations and admits he couldn’t have done it without the support of the channel.
“I was very fortunate to interview Ricky Nicol, who had established a very successful comms partner, Commsworld in Edinburgh, about his cancer diagnosis and when I explained that I wanted to give the book away to help other people affected by cancer, Ricky secured the funding within 24 hours as he thought it was a great idea,” says Kevin.
“As we were self-publishing the book, we relied on help from family and friends to edit, proofread and produce the book. I’m incredibly proud that my family helped to produce the book, with my son editing it and my daughter designing the cover, as she was studying illustration at Dundee University. Working in the IT channel taught me that we need a strong team and I certainly had one during my cancer treatment and in producing our book.”
Thanks to the success of the first print run, Kevin was contacted by more cancer charities that wanted copies of the book, which led him to contact partners he had worked with that were very happy to support the printing of another 7,000 copies, which again were given free of charge to cancer charities and treatment centres.
“The support I received from nine IT channel partners, from London to Aberdeen, was very humbling and a reflection on the relationships I had built,” says Kevin. “We all know someone affected by cancer and we have a one in two chance of being diagnosed with cancer in our life, so this book resonated with everyone I spoke to.”
One of the charities that accepted copies of the book is Maggie’s, which has 27 cancer centres across the country where people can access cancer support. Each centre has copies of the book that people can borrow or sit and read before or after visiting a nearby cancer centre.
Not content with giving 8,000 physical copies of the book away free, Kevin then launched the book for sale due to people asking to purchase copies and it’s available physically in the UK, Ireland, Europe and North America and digitally via Amazon, Apple and other platforms. Kevin has committed all royalties from sales go to Maggie’s and he recently presented a cheque to them for £2,000.
“Life has changed for my family and I, and now that my cancer has been under control for three years, I was very happy to return to Ingram Micro, where I first worked in 1992 and it was lovely when I walked through the door to be greeted by very familiar faces and quite a few hugs,” says Kevin. “I’ve always been passionate about helping IT channel partners and working with Cisco and Ingram Micro, I’m excited by the opportunity to make a difference.”
For more information see: www.storiesofcancerandhope.co.uk/
