The Board is deeply saddened to learn of the death of former Trustee Cameron Millar. Cameron passed away on 5 February at the age of 54 after battling a long-term illness.
Fiona Driscoll, Chair of the Board of Trustees said: “News of Cameron’s passing has dealt a devastating blow to all who had the privilege of knowing him. Our thoughts are with his family and loved ones at this difficult time. We extend our heartfelt condolences to Cameron’s family and express our gratitude for his significant contribution to the NCRI.”
Cameron joined the NCRI Board as the Consumer Trustee in July 2021 and was a committed and valued colleague until 2023, when his deteriorating health meant he had to step down.
Cameron had a strong dedication to the NCRI and in particular to all our Advocates who gave willingly of their time to support cancer research. He was instrumental in championing the development of the Advocates Academy as a patient-to-patient training hub for other NCRI Advocates, particularly those eager to shape research at strategic and national levels.
Cameron brought a clarity of thought and a direct, yet diplomatic, way of communicating his ideas. He was always a supportive colleague who will be sadly missed who believed in collaboration and in collective endeavours. He was well-known in the lung cancer patient communities both in the UK and in the USA, and could frequently be found online in international patient chatrooms in the small hours of the morning. He was much in demand as a cogent and passionate speaker and addressed the Scottish Parliament to much acclaim. His drive, his voice and his vision will all be missed.
A keen hillwalker, Cameron was born in Edinburgh. He was educated at the city’s Craigmount High School between 1979 and 1985. He enjoyed exploring the great outdoors, and when not scaling the Scottish countryside, he would ski, cycle, and build his beloved whisky collection.
In January 2020, Cameron received the devastating news that he had stage four lung cancer despite never smoking. Determined to raise awareness of the disease, known as ALK-positive lung cancer, Cameron took part in the 2022 Edinburgh Marathon and helped fundraise on behalf of Maggie’s. He was Deputy Chair of Court at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh.