Charities to benefit from new social-enterprise publishing company

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-four metastatic melanoma in December 2019, at the age of 50, the father-of-two discovered the power of explaining his journey and listening to stories of other people’s experiences. This led to the creation of his first book, Stories of Cancer and Hope (SOCAH), which has attracted interest around the world.

Following the book’s impact, and with the help of business partners Derek Watson and Daniel Wood who helped produce SOCAH, Kevin has set up Shandon Publishing in Edinburgh. The aim is to publish future titles on a similar theme. 

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. The first title to be published by the newly formed social enterprise is 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 Kevin: “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.

“Daniel and I have experienced first-hand the benefit of sharing personal experiences of cancer. Along with our good friend Derek, 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.”

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.

www.shandonpublishing.co.uk

Photography: Curt Littlecot, of left-right, Derek Watson, Daniel Wood and Kevin Donaghy.