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Therapeutic Radiographer to trek Great Wall of China for CoppaFeel!
Norma Higgins will walk the Great Wall of China
Norma Higgins will walk the Great Wall of China
Norma Higgins, a Therapeutic Radiographer from Northern Ireland, will trek the Great Wall of China later this year with CoppaFeel!
CoppaFeel! is a breast cancer charity that focuses on early detection in women under 30. Twice each year, it runs five-day treks across the world to raise money and increase awareness of breast cancer. The treks are led by CoppaFeel! ambassador and patron Giovanna Fletcher.
Mum-of-three Norma will take on CoppaFeel!’s CoppaTrek! on 5-13 September this year. “Being chosen is not just a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, it is a recognition of personal dedication and the potential to make a real impact in raising awareness of breast cancer,” she said.
As a Therapeutic Radiographer at the Northern Ireland Cancer Centre, Norma knows the importance of early detection. But she also understands it from a personal perspective, having been diagnosed with breast cancer herself in 2019.
“Treatment involved chemotherapy, three surgeries, radiotherapy and Herceptin, all during Covid, a time that felt isolating and uncertain,” she explained. “It’s taken years for my body to feel like my own again and this trek feels like a celebration of that and a way to push myself, to show how far I’ve come and to make my children proud.”
To show your support for Norma and the CoppaFeel! cause, check out Norma’s JustGiving page here.
SoR UK Council election nominations open
The SoR’s UK Council
The SoR’s UK Council
Nominations are being accepted for the spring 2026 SoR UK Council elections.
Seats are open in the Midlands, Northern Ireland, Scotland and the South West. Full SoR members are eligible to be elected and can be nominated to stand by four members from their region.
If successful, nominees will stand for a three-year term, with the opportunity to stand again once their initial term ends. UK Council members have a range of responsibilities, such as:
- Representing and promoting agreed policies
- Representing the trade union and professional interests of all society members
- Developing and promoting the advancement of the radiography profession and the wider radiographic workforce
- Attending and speaking at national and international conferences, events and meetings
“The SoR exists for members and is run by members, ensuring we stay strong, democratic and well governed for the long-term success of our union and professional body,” said Richard Evans, CEO of the SoR. “We hope you will consider applying for these roles.”
Eligible members will receive an email invite to submit their nominations. The nomination deadline is midday GMT on Friday 13 March 2026.
HeartUnions Week 2026: Rachel Benson
SoR rep Rachel Benson
SoR rep Rachel Benson
The SoR showcased the work of its union reps during HeartUnions Week – an opportunity to celebrate trade unions and workplace reps. This year HeartUnions Week took place from 9 to 15 February.
Among those celebrated was Rachel Benson, an industrial relations and learning rep. Rachel was inspired to become a rep after seeking support from an SoR regional officer.
“I only recently became a Society of Radiographers rep following a pay dispute in our department,” she explained. “At that time, I reached out to Helen Wickham [SoR regional officer] for advice and support and, with her guidance, we were able to resolve the issue through firm, well-worded emails.
“This experience showed me the real impact that the SoR can have and inspired me to become an industrial relations and learning rep myself.”
Rachel said the role has been a source of personal and professional growth for her. “I have had to communicate with senior leaders, including the head of hospital finance – something I never imagined I would be able to do.
“The SoR gave me the confidence and skills to do this effectively.”
HeartUnions Week 2026: Samantha Kemp
Samantha Kemp
Samantha Kemp
The HeartUnions Week celebrations continued as the SoR highlighted Samantha Kemp, a Diagnostic Radiographer.
Samantha has been an SoR industrial relations rep since 2021 and won the SoR UK Rep of the Year Award at ADC 2025. Her innate ability to challenge the status quo factored into why she decided to become a rep.
“Any time I hear ‘oh, the culture’s just like that’, I want to stop and ask ‘why is that OK?’,” she said. “I’ve never been one to accept that. It made me think, maybe becoming an industrial relations rep is the sort of thing I could get my teeth into.”
While it took some time to find her feet, Samantha felt buoyed by the shared experiences of the other reps.
“It was a rollercoaster for the first year or two, even though I wasn’t getting involved in a great deal. I was more just finding my place,” she continued. “It’s nice to have that collective of similar experiences. Everyone has different backgrounds, but being able to get advice from teams and from people who know what you know, who don’t have to have it explained to them – it’s really reassuring.”
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Image credit: Getty Images
