Evidence and facts make campaign messages credible — but it’s your lived experiences that bring them to life.
Storytelling has always helped people connect. Our brains don’t just hear stories; they experience them. Unlike standalone facts, stories activate areas linked to memory, emotion, and decision‑making. That’s why they’re more memorable and more persuasive especially when influencing politicians.
Watch Helen Hayes MP share a Campaigns Ambassador story during a House of Commons debate before a vote.
Think about your experiences — everything that makes you who you are.
When was the last time you sat down and tried to capture it? Deciding what to include, what to leave out and how to tell your cancer story in a way people connect with can feel daunting. With help from experts, we’ve created this guide and top tips to help you write your story and feel confident sharing it.
Use words like “I” and “my” so your personal voice comes through.
Set the scene with details you remember — dates, places, even the weather — and describe how it felt in the moment. Details help people connect with your story.
Create a simple timeline of your experiences to help shape the structure of your story. You might start with a strong image or feeling and return to it at the end.
Use specific dates (e.g. May 2024 or aged 65) instead of phrases like “last year” to avoid future edits.
Start with the long version of your story, then think about how to shorten it for different formats — a blog, an email, or just a few quotes.
Talk to someone and share your cancer story with them. Ask if they can help you pull out the short, memorable lines that really capture who you are. Writing the way we speak makes our story feel more real and authentic.
Stories can activate parts of the brain that make experiences feel vivid again. Sometimes this can bring up difficult emotions; other times it can feel helpful to put feelings into words and see them as memories. Take your time, pause when you need to, and be gentle with yourself as you write.
We receive regular requests for cancer stories. With your permission, we’ll keep a record of your story and may share it if it matches what another team is looking. Don’t worry — we’ll always ask for your consent before sharing anything externally, whether it’s your full story or just a short quote.
Browse our collection of cancer stories
You may adapt it for different audiences — such as an MP or your local community — and for different opportunities, from face‑to‑face conversations to social media, group presentations or even press releases. You’ll also find these skills useful in other activities you take part in, like fundraising.
Watch a recording of a past workshop, created with support from our Health Media and Cancer Stories teams, where five Campaigns Ambassadors share their tips and techniques.
