Our Trustees

Chair

Lauren Stahly

Lauren is a graduate of the University of Aberdeen with a Master of Arts in International Relations and Sociology, and is starting her career in the NHS. Lauren was born with high imperforate anus and partial sacral agenesis and was one of the first people in the UK to have the pull-through surgery laparoscopically assisted. Having had a colostomy for the first two years of her life and permanent continence issues. Lauren wishes to use her experience to support others affected by anorectal malformations. It was not until Lauren was eighteen that she found a life-changing online community of people with anorectal malformations and she wants everyone affected by ARM to have that support. Lauren competed her thesis on imperforate anus and the impact that invisible disability has on a person's identity. Lauren has joined Patient and Family Liaison and Experience Coordinator.

Treasurer

Deepti Grover

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Governance lead

Andy Button

Andy spent his entire working life in the NHS, the last 17 years of which were as the manager of a GP practice in Berkshire. He is therefore entirely at home dealing with paperwork and hence has the role of Governance Lead for Max’s Trust. He is a Trustee of two other charities, Oxford Orpheus and Goring Chamber Choir (through which he first met Max’s mum, Cassie) and chairs the Patient Participation Group at his local surgery. Andy is the Governance Lead for Max’s Trust.

Secretary

Helen Millard

Helen is a mother of three children and a lifelong friend to Cassie having met many years ago at boarding school. After a flourishing career in video production, Helen has devoted her life to caring for her children as well as being involved in local causes and helping at both primary and secondary schools. She has a wealth of experience working with the community and helping local causes including spearheading a movement to improve and refurbish the local play park, working closely with the parish council and various bodies to design and execute the project - which is still standing today. Having loved Max from the second he was born, Helen says it is a privilege to be part of this charity and everything that it stands for. Helen is the Secretary for Max’s Trust, as well as being Fundraising Lead.

Partnership Leader

Kate Tyler

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Patient and family liaison and experience coordinator

Kate Macfarlane

Kate was born with ARM. She attended our 2023 conference where she met other adults, learned more about her condition and had great discussions with parents and medical specialists. Kate came away from that weekend wanting to contribute to ensuring everyone affected by ARM gets the support they need to live a fulfilling life.

Fundraising

Hattie Crossthwaite-Eyre

Hattie is a founding trustee of Max’s Trust, as well as the mummy of two sweet and cheeky boys – Austin and Jasper. Jasper was born in 2017 with duodenal atresia, an anorectal malformation and narrow airway, and has braved multiple complex operations for all three. Jasper is feisty and hilariously fun and is a daily inspiration to his whole family. He’s under the brilliant and attentive care of Great Ormond Street Hospital. Hattie’s passion is improving access to health care, both physical and mental. Her background is in Human Sciences and Public Health, and she has worked across East and Southern Africa designing community health programmes. Hattie recently worked at McKinsey as a health care consultant and is now COO of the Positive Group – a brilliant organisation that helps people to understand their psychological health and how to protect it - across schools, universities and corporates. Hattie’s husband Ed works in renewable energy, with a particular interest in electric vehicles. Hattie is jointly responsible for fundraising for Max’s Trust.

Trustee

Shaun Shepherd

Shaun was born with ARM, along with a few of the letters of VACTERL. He has recently joined us at Max's trust and hopes to use his lived experience to raise awareness of ARM. 

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