STAR THROWERS CANCER SUPPORT CHARITY

THE CLIENT

Star Throwers Cancer Support Charity based in Wymondham, is dedicated to providing support for people with cancer and their loved ones.  Support can take the form of informing people about their cancer and treatment and also to provide wellbeing support through information.  Lymphoedema support, complementary therapies, groups, nutrition workshops, and counselling are all provided on site.

Support is available for people with any type of cancer and at all stages of their journey, including post-treatment. Equally importantly, support services are available for carers, partners and loved ones too.  All of Star Throwers’ support is completely free of charge due to generous donors and supporters.

THE REMIT

To create a body of photographs of real people living beyond the diagnosis of cancer.  ‘Beyond The Diagnosis was a project we at Star Throwers put together with Angela Adams Photography to mark World Cancer Day 2026. We started with a simple belief: getting a cancer diagnosis doesn’t have to define you. Our plan? To photograph and share the stories of people affected by cancer, showing them as individuals, not just patients or numbers, each with their own unique story.

After 16 years of supporting people living with cancer, Star Throwers has seen time and again that life is so much more than a diagnosis or medical label. That’s what inspired us to invite the people we support to join us for a portrait session. No expectations, no need to pretend, just being themselves. At Star Throwers, crafting and textiles aren’t just hobbies, they’re symbols of comfort, strength and hope for many of us, so we wanted our models to bring along something that means a lot to them.  Through these photos, we wanted to show real moments of strength, vulnerability and humanity, capturing who each person really is, well beyond their diagnosis.

THE RESULT‍

The portraits we made are honest and striking; they celebrate self-acceptance, strength, and what makes each person unique. Once we set aside all the medical stuff, it was amazing how quickly the idea of ‘diagnosis’ faded into the background, letting the true person shine through.

This project was a team effort between Star Throwers, Angela Adams Photography, Wensum Print, who printed the exhbition photographs and financial support from M & A Partners. We all believe that art can help people connect, heal and feel empathy for one another. Rather than just showing what illness looks like, Beyond The Diagnosis is all about honouring the dignity, personality and stories of people affected by cancer. Most importantly, it’s a reminder to see and celebrate each person for who they really are, because a diagnosis is just one part of a much bigger, richer life story.