Future Faces member 'honoured' to share inspiring cancer survival story at Chamber awards

A Future Faces member recently shared his inspiring story to an audience of 1,000 people at the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce Awards 2025.

Morgan Paine, a consultant transport planner at mode transport planning, spoke to the audience about his journey of overcoming Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia (ACL), honouring the work that the Chamber’s chosen charity, Cure Leukaemia, does for patients, both current and previous, and their families.

A grand total of £10,210 was raised on the night for Cure Leukaemia through raffle ticket sales, making it the most the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce has ever raised for a charity at the annual awards ceremony.

James McLaughlin, Cure Leukaemia CEO, said: "We are delighted by the record-breaking funds raised at the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce Awards. At Cure Leukaemia, our patients are central to all we do, and hearing Morgan's powerful story that evening underscores our urgent mission to find a cure for blood cancer through the support of businesses and individuals across the West Midlands."

Morgan said: “It was an honour to be given the opportunity to share my unique story at the GBBC Awards, raising awareness for an organisation that is incredibly close to my heart Cure Leukaemia. The support from the audience was incredibly fulfilling and I know that the generosity on show, goes a long way to provide pioneering treatment to those who need it most.”

Sophie Poduval-Morrell, manager of Future Faces, said: “I was so proud to see Morgan share his story at the GBCC Awards, in front of 1,000 people! Morgan was brave, eloquent, and confident but above all authentic. Future Faces is proud to have members like Morgan as part of our ever-growing community.” 

Morgan was first diagnosed with ACL in November 2019, and for the following three and a half years he underwent rigorous chemotherapy, that was researched by Cure Leukaemia at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham.

During that period, Morgan had a number of life-threatening complications with the low point being on 21 December 2019, where he was put into a medically induced coma to try to save his life. Thankfully, even though Morgan was given an incredibly slim chance of surviving, he did, and went on to finish his full treatment schedule in July 2023.

Having started maintenance chemotherapy in August 2020 Morgan was able to restart his fitness journey, and he completed the 'London 2 Paris' cycle ride whilst undergoing his chemotherapy to raise money for Cure Leukaemia.

Morgan will be continuing his fund-raising efforts for Cure Leukaemia by running five marathons this year, starting off with the TCS London Marathon in April.

The idea to run five marathons in a year came as a way for Morgan to celebrate and reflect on five years since his life dramatically changed with a Leukaemia diagnosis.

If you would like to support Morgan and help him reach his fundraising goal of £5,000, visit his JustGiving page.

To hear more about Morgan’s story, you can listen to his Future Faces: The Young Professionals Podcast episode, where he discusses his journey and how it has enabled him to discover his personal brand.

Pictured: Morgan speaking at the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce Awards 2025