Cancer-awareness campaigner Kevin Donaghy has launched a publishing company to help people affected by a life-changing diagnosis.
Having been diagnosed with incurable stage 4 metastatic melanoma in December 2019 at the age of 50, the father-of-two discovered the power of explaining his journey and listening to other people’s cancer stories, leading to the creation of his first book, Stories of Cancer and Hope (SOCAH), which attracted interested from around the world.
Following the book’s impact, and with the help of business partners Derek Watson and Daniel Wood who helped produce SOCAH, Mr Donaghy has set up Shandon Publishing Ltd in Edinburgh with the aim of publishing future titles along a similar theme to help people through the darkest times of their lives.
Shandon Publishing will work in partnership with charities and community organisations to publish books centred on personal narratives from people affected by health conditions, whether as patients, carers, loved ones or health professionals.
Royalties from book sales will be going to charity, with the first title to be published by the newly-formed social enterprise a reprint of SOCAH due to ongoing demand following its initial publication two years ago.
“This is a proud moment for three of us,” said Mr Donaghy. “The owner of our original publisher retired and that was the catalyst for us to create a sustainable publishing model rooted in social purpose.
“It’s our part-time passion project and will not make us any money. We all have jobs which pay the bills but we are incredibly passionate about carrying on the work from SOCAH to help people affected by life-changing diagnoses so they don’t feel alone.
“We’re very much looking forward to the journey ahead and helping as many people as possible through the publication of personal stories.
“Myself and Daniel have experienced first-hand the benefit of sharing personal experiences of cancer. Along with our good friend Derek, who I have known since we moved into the same tenement in Shandon Place in Edinburgh in 1997, we wanted to have the ability to publish more powerful lived-experience stories around physical and mental health.
“By doing this we want to raise awareness, reduce isolation and generate funds for charitable causes, while giving hope to others – and themselves – and building a community.”
Since its first publication, there are now 10,000 copies of Stories of Cancer and Hope in circulation, raising over £2,000 from sales for Maggie’s cancer centres and it has been distributed to all 27 Maggie’s centres across the UK. Royalties continue to be donated to Maggie’s.
Andrew Anderson, Maggie’s Induction and Development Lead, said: “We would like to thank Kevin for supporting Maggie’s in the last couple of years with his book ‘Stories of Cancer and Hope’, which has been read by many people living with cancer and who visit our Maggie’s centres across the UK. Kevin has also donated over £2000 to Maggie’s from the sales of this book.
“We would also like to wish Kevin, Daniel and Derek every success with their new social enterprise publishing company which will endeavour to support more people to find community and feel less alone.”
