Our people

Maria Hanson MBE

Maria, who herself suffers from health problems, set up the charity in 2006 and since then has helped hundreds of people with the help of her devoted team and vital donations. Maria say’s ‘I am delighted that the people below have agreed to join our Board of Trustees, each and every one of them bring something different to my charity and me&dee will benefit greatly with them onboard, I look forward to working with them all".

Nikki Kinsey – trustee

Nikki is a Director and Board member of Derby based recruitment specialist, Sellick Partnership. Nikki was instantly drawn to me&dee when she first met Maria Hanson at the 2014 Derby Telegraph Business Awards and was immediately overwhelmed by Maria’s kindness and dedication to helping those in need. Nikki has been committed to helping the charity ever since, working closely with Maria to create special memories for the charity’s beneficiaries. Nikki hopes that her passion for the not for profit sector, commercial experience and desire to ensure the charity is able to continue providing precious memories will offer a fresh approach and create new opportunities for me&dee.

Liz Horsey - trustee

Liz Horsey, Business Success Coach and Marketing Mentor

I am absolutely honoured to join me&dee as a trustee. Maria and Mark work tirelessly to support families during incredibly difficult times and I aim to use my 30+ years’ business experience, passion and energy to assist in every way I can. As a Business Success Coach with extensive experience in Marketing, I particularly hope to support me&dee through planning and awareness building.

Mark Harrison

Mark is our Head of Operations and joined the charity in January 2018.

Proud of the memories we make

"We cannot thank you enough for giving us a week of peace,
laughter, and putting our family on a much needed even keel together."