Honoured at Buckingham Palace for Cancer Awareness Work

Creative artist and community advocate Lisa Jackson, founder of Mon0lisa Productions, was invited to a prestigious reception at Buckingham Palace on Wednesday 30th April 2025, hosted by King Charles III and Queen Camilla. The event brought together individuals and organisations from across the UK who are making a difference in the lives of those affected by cancer.

Lisa’s invitation recognised her ongoing, creative community work to raise awareness of male cancers, particularly among African-Caribbean men. Her efforts have focused on culturally sensitive approaches, rooted in storytelling, humour, and education. Lisa attended the event alongside Ali Orhan, Chief Executive of Orchid, the UK’s leading charity for those affected by male cancer. Ali also directs the Overcoming the Barriers to Engaging with Prostate Cancer project, which supports men—especially from marginalised communities, through education, co-designed interventions, and trusted community relationships. Members of other support groups in around the UK who had collaborated with Orchid on community-based outreach were also present.

A central part of Lisa’s outreach has been her much-loved character Patty Dumplin, who first appeared in a British Heart Foundation campaign. Patty became widely popular, especially in Nottingham, where her vibrant, humorous, and relatable personality resonated with local audiences. With a growing international following, Patty is now the central figure in a new radio adaptation and stage play addressing prostate cancer awareness. This play, created in collaboration with community champions, will be performed in Nottingham in September 2025.

While Lisa’s invitation to the Palace was based on her more recent creative health outreach work, her earlier contributions were also acknowledged. In 2017, she co-developed the Pro-CEE serious game, a culturally sensitive digital intervention aimed at raising awareness of prostate cancer in African-Caribbean men. Lisa contributed to the game’s storyline and voiceovers, helping to ensure that the content reflected lived experiences. The project was co-created with FAB (Friends and Bredrin), BME Cancer Communities, and the late Dr. Rose Thompson. Evaluations of the game revealed it to be an effective tool in encouraging early detection and behaviour change.

Each guest at the Palace received a personal leaflet containing a heartfelt message from King Charles III, who shared reflections on his own cancer experience and praised the compassion and community care shown by those working in the field.

Other invitees included individuals and representatives from national cancer charities such as Macmillan Cancer Support, Breast Cancer Now, Maggie’s, and Children’s Hospice South West. Attendees also included radio presenter Adele Roberts, former footballer Ashley Cain, and actor Richard E. Grant, all of whom have personal connections to cancer experiences and advocacy.

Lisa shared:

“To be in Buckingham Palace, surrounded by others dedicated to saving lives, was a powerful reminder of why we do this work. I was proud to represent Nottingham, the champions, and every person who has helped carry these messages into our communities. Patty Dumplin may bring the laughs, but behind her is a serious message we won’t stop sharing.”