Meet Our Board
At Sarcoma Cancer Ireland, our Board plays a vital role in guiding the direction and integrity of everything we do. Made up entirely of volunteers, the Board brings together a wide range of lived experience, professional expertise, and personal commitment to the cause.
Some of our members are patients or family members directly affected by sarcoma, while others bring backgrounds in healthcare, education, communications, finance, and nonprofit governance. Together, they oversee strategy, accountability, and sustainability — ensuring that the charity stays focused on what matters most: supporting people living with sarcoma in Ireland.
The Board meets regularly (virtually) and works closely with our volunteer teams to shape campaigns, manage resources, and advocate nationally for better care, awareness, and research. While they may be behind the scenes, their impact is deeply felt throughout the organisation and among the wider sarcoma community.
Rebecca Guilfoyle
ChairpersonRebecca Guilfoyle is a founding Board member of Sarcoma Cancer Ireland & was nominated to become the Board Chair in 2023. Rebecca was introduced to sarcoma in 2019, when her stepfather was diagnosed with Chondrosarcoma.
Rebecca has a professional background leading teams and projects within regulated environments in the pharmaceutical & financial services sectors. She is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) with the Project Management Institute, holds a BSc in Government & Public Policy from UCC, a Diploma in Project Management from MTU. Most recently – to support the evolution of Sarcoma Cancer Ireland – she completed a Postgraduate Diploma in Organisational Transformation & Change from the Irish Management Institute (IMI). Rebecca lives in Cork with her husband & young children.
Carol Haslam
Operations Lead & Company SecretaryCarol Haslam is a founding board member of Sarcoma Cancer Ireland and serves as the charity’s Operations Lead and Company Secretary. Diagnosed with sarcoma in 2017, which led to the amputation of her arm, Carol discovered there was no dedicated support for sarcoma patients in Ireland. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she connected with other patients and patient family members online, and together they helped establish Sarcoma Cancer Ireland.
As Operations Lead, Carol is involved in most aspects of the charity’s day-to-day work. She heads up fundraising, helps coordinate support for patients and families, helps oversees grant and counselling programmes, and works with the Board to ensure strong governance. She especially values speaking with patients and family members, and does all she can to offer support and understanding.
Her personal experience of cancer, combined with her background in small business management, gives Carol a deep insight into the practical and emotional needs of patients. She brings this into everything she does, helping to build systems that are compassionate, responsive, and grounded in real-life experience.
Before her diagnosis, Carol owned and ran a busy flower shop for many years. She now lives in County Meath with her husband and their two children, balancing family life with her commitment to supporting others facing a sarcoma diagnosis.
Paul Lund
TreasurerPaul Lund began volunteering with Sarcoma Cancer Ireland as Finance Director and Treasurer in February 2024 and joined the Board later that year. Arising from his mother’s cancer diagnosis in 2016, Paul was motivated to support a charity such as Sarcoma Cancer Ireland, which makes a real difference to those affected by sarcoma.
In terms of Paul’s professional experience, he is currently an Indirect Tax Manager with Deloitte Australia. Paul has extensive experience in both direct and indirect taxes across Australia, Ireland, the EU, and globally, and has advised domestic and multinational businesses across a range of industries on all tax matters. He is a Chartered Accountant with Chartered Accountants Ireland and a Chartered Tax Adviser with the Irish Tax Institute. Paul holds an MSc in International Management and a BSc (Hons) in Undenominated Science, specialising in Zoology, from the University of Galway. Paul lives in Sydney, Australia, with his partner.
David Smeed
Founding Board MemberDavid Smeed has a background in Finance for over 25 years. Currently a regulated QFA servicing HNW clients both in Ireland & abroad, David is involved as both a Board Director & within the Finance Committee in Sarcoma Cancer Ireland. As a regulated QFA, David has a working relationship with a number of the top financial institutions in Ireland.
He also sits as a NED and Investor committee member in BVP Asset Management, a Dublin based EIIS Impact Investing Investment Fund. David has worked in both London & Singapore within the Hedge Fund space.
A Dublin native, directly impacted by Sarcoma via his later father, he is a keen sports fan and a member of multiple sports clubs in the Howth / Sutton area.
Angela Wallace
Founding Board MemberAngela is a founding board member and retired from a 30+ year career in the forestry sector, specialising in environmental protection and biodiversity. After her son Lee passed from pelvic sarcoma, she helped establish SCI to ensure better support and information for sarcoma patients and families. Angela enjoys fundraising, gardening, and time with family as a devoted grandmother.
Kelli Appezzato
Founding Board Member & Advocacy & EducationWhen Kelli’s husband was diagnosed with leiomyosarcoma in 2016, she searched for a patient support group but couldn’t find one anywhere in Ireland. Her advocacy work began almost immediately when she campaigned publicly with other patients to force the Minister for Health to appoint a permanent sarcoma specialist to manage the care of Irish patients. That small protest group developed over time into the charity that is now known as Sarcoma Cancer Ireland.
Along with her Board role, Kelli chairs the Advocacy & Education Committee. This committee is focussed on improving sarcoma awareness amongst the general public and medical community, as well as advocating for patients on matters of interest nationally and globally. Mother of 4 and grandmother of 2, Kelli lives in rural Kilkenny.
Catherine Leith
Board MemberCatherine Leith has been volunteering with Sarcoma Cancer Ireland since June 2024, bringing both professional expertise and deeply personal experience to her role. A Systems Analyst with the Education Authority, Catherine is also a synovial sarcoma survivor. Her background includes years of voluntary work with sarcoma-focused charities including The Boom Foundation and Sarcoma UK. With a passion for improving support for those affected by rare cancers, she plays a vital role in shaping how we serve our community.
On our board, Catherine leads the design and delivery of key support services such as patient grants and counselling. Her lived experience ensures our services reflect the real and often unseen needs of those facing sarcoma. She is a strong advocate for emotional connection and practical support throughout the cancer journey. As she puts it, “During my treatment, I wanted to talk to someone who truly understood. I volunteer to make sure others don’t feel alone on their journey.” Outside of her volunteer work, Catherine is a proud mum of two boys, a fan of strong tea and well-built spreadsheets, and a firm believer in compassion and community.
John Ruddy
Board MemberA volunteer board member since June 2024. Originally from Achill Island and now living in Kildare, John works with Chartered Accountants Ireland as an Enterprise Application Executive and Project Manager with over 20 years’ experience in software development and digital strategy. He holds a Master’s in IT Enabled Innovation from Maynooth University and brings a calm, solutions-focused mindset to his work on the Board, helping strengthen how we operate behind the scenes.
John’s connection to cancer is a personal one – several of his family members have faced other forms of the disease, which inspired him to contribute his skills to a charity supporting patients and families through one of the rarer and lesser-known cancers. A keen cyclist and always ready to lend a hand, John is passionate about making systems work better – for people, not just processes.
Meet Our Counsellors
Our dedicated counsellors lead both the Patient and Family Support Group and the Bereavement Support Group, offering compassionate guidance every step of the way. With expertise in emotional wellbeing and practical coping strategies, they create a safe space for sharing, listening, and healing. Whether you’re navigating the challenges of a sarcoma diagnosis or coping with loss, our counsellors provide the tools, encouragement, and community connection to help you find strength and support on your journey.
Peter Mulvihill
Accredited PsychotherapistPeter joined SCI in 2024 to expand counselling services. He provides one-to-one therapy and facilitates support groups for patients and families.
Ann Butler
Accredited PsychotherapistAnn established SCI’s counselling and support group services, delivering compassionate therapy sessions and facilitating group support. With over 10 years’ experience in psychotherapy, she brings expertise in grief counselling and trauma-informed care.