Trustees

Tracy Traverse-Burley (Chair of Trustees)

Tracy and her husband Dean live in Essex with Rey who was born in 2019 with large CMN covering her body. Rey is a happy little girl who draws people in with her confidence and curly hair.

Tracy is a mum first but loves her job where she runs her own consultancy business managing and negotiating multi million pound contracts for both public, private and third sector clients.

Tracy’s role in the charity is to focus on strategy, corporate sponsorship and grant generation to support the charity in its three aims; support, research and awareness. Her first work with the charity was to create a virtual baby and toddler group with the aim of starting to create an organic community of young children living with CMN and their families whereby we ‘do life together’. So that from a young age friendships are built and therefore a natural support network is developed for the years that follow. This work is very personal to Tracy as she knows this will be truly valuable for Rey growing up.

Tracy is honoured and excited to be a Trustee for the Charity.

Ian Chance (Treasurer)

Ian and his wife Michelle live in South East London and have been involved with the Charity since 2010, initially attending the family days with their son Alexander and daughter Jasmin who was born with a large CMN on her face, covering her right cheek and nose. Jasmin was referred to plastic surgeon Mr Bulstrode at Great Ormond Street Hospital at the age of one and began a series of six successful surgical procedures (four serial excisions & two skin grafts) over a four year period to reduce the size of the CMN.

In 2011 Michelle became the CMN support contact for the London area and in 2013 Ian was asked if he would become a Trustee for the Charity. For his day job, Ian works in fraud investigation & risk management, previously for the City of London Police Fraud Squad and Serious Fraud Office (SFO), and more recently for the Enforcement & Market Oversight Department at the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in London. Ian’s financial skills and expertise in the criminal & regulatory environment equip him well for the role of Treasurer and Trustee.

In December 2015 Ian confirmed his acceptance to becoming the Treasurer for Caring Matters Now. Ian’s role oversees the Charity’s Financial Sub-Committee and he is responsible for the Finance & Risk Policies & Procedures. Ian is ably supported by the charity’s Finance & Office Administrator, Lisa Sly.

Val Unsworth

As co-founder of Caring Matters Now alongside her daughter Jodi – Val has been actively involved in the charity right from the beginning to the present day, including serving as a trustee on the board.

When Jodi was born little was known about CMN and there was no support whatsoever available. Val is now very glad that through Caring Matters Now, not only is there appropriate and sensitive support available for families today, but also much is now known about CMN, thanks to the tireless work of Professor Kinsler and her research team.

When Jodi was born it was traumatic and continued to be so for a number of years, but now, looking back over the last 45 years, Val acknowledges how it has shaped their lives for the common good, and counts it a huge privilege to be part of the Caring Matters Now family.

In 2012, Val took up the role of Chair of Trustees, always striving to provide steadfast and visionary leadership, alongside the Chief Executive Officer. Whilst in the role of Chair there were some significant milestones in the history of the charity: the development of the charity’s Support Pathway; successful delivery of the HOW DO YOU C ME NOW? Exhibition awareness campaign; the establishment of our sister charity, Caring Matters Now Ireland; due to the growth of the charity a necessary restructuring of the charity to ensure it is able to continue to meet the needs of our members and of course, the huge breakthrough in developing an effective treatment for CMN.

After 12 years as Chair Val decided to step down from this role, whilst remaining as a trustee in order to continue to serve the charity. Her particular responsibility as a trustee is oversight of the Support Pathway and the wellbeing of staff and trustees.

Val began her career as a teacher of children with special needs but subsequently became a qualified counsellor. Before retiring in 2022 she worked at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool, supporting bereaved families. She now spends her time enjoying her nine grandchildren, doing what she can to keep fit and is actively involved in her church both in providing pastoral support to women and being part of the music ministry.

Ruth Gold

Ruth lives in north London with her husband Matt, their daughter Sophie who was born with CMN in 2017, and Sophie’s little brother Liam. Sophie’s CMN and the extent of it was a shock to the whole family. Caring Matters Now provided support for Ruth at what was a very difficult time. It felt like a major milestone for Ruth to take part in the charity’s Hadrian’s Wall fundraising trek when Sophie was 9 months old.

Ruth works as an Assistant Editor at Sky News and was happy to help Caring Matters Now with the media coverage for the fantastic ‘How Do You C Me Now?’ exhibition in 2019. Ruth and Matt are aware that Sophie is still young and look forward to seeing her grow alongside the charity as it goes from strength to strength.

Emma Robins

Emma lives in the North East of England with her husband, Michael, and two children, Isaac and Ava. Ava was born with a large CMN in 2010 and since then, Emma has been passionate about supporting the work of Caring Matters Now.

Emma has organised many fundraising events with the support of her family and friends over the years, receiving recognition of her efforts through the Jessica Ma Award in 2020. With a desire to make a significant difference, Emma now has greater aspirations in her role as Trustee.

Emma has worked as a senior leader in education for over 15 years and is currently headteacher of two schools. Her executive leadership experience will support the governance and strategic direction of the charity. Her role will also involve oversight of Safeguarding, HR and Communications. Emma is especially interested in how educational establishments can support children and families with CMN and increase awareness to educate others.

Kuhan Valleekanthan

Kuhan lives in South East London with his wife Sandra and 3 children Maddie, Reuben and Zara. His oldest daughter Maddie has bathing trunk CMN. Kuhan’s family have since 2010 been regularly attending regional and wider activities and been involved with charitable fundraising events. Sandra has a role as the London regional contact.

Kuhan is grateful to Caring Matters Now for the support his family has received over the years and the sense of community the charity provides. For Maddie meeting other children with CMN and the friendships she has developed has strengthened her confidence and self-esteem. Kuhan reflects on attending support events in those early days as an opportunity to share narratives and experiences with other parents of children with CMN, which helped him with his own emotions and anxieties. As a trustee Kuhan wants to continue to champion this key role of the charity and offer something back in a practical way.

Kuhan has been a children and families social work manager for over 15 years working in safeguarding. Kuhan would like to bring to the trustee board his own experiences of developing relationships to work collaboratively and achieve change into the charity’s future goals.