Neil Graham was diagnosed with CLL at the age of fifty. In the ensuing years, as both a patient and a physician, Neil saw the need for better information and stronger advocacy for New Zealanders living with CLL. With support from others in the CLL sector, in 2019 he established CLL Advocates NZ, gaining membership of the global resource-sharing network CLL Advocates Network and formally launching the New Zealand group at a patient seminar in 2020.

Neil gave tirelessly and freely of his personal time and professional expertise, both in talking and meeting with CLL patients and actively engaging with decision makers to advocate for better treatments for CLL. Neil was widely respected by the CLL and patient advocacy communities for his courage and commitment to this cause and is greatly missed.

Neil Graham FRACP, FRCP qualified at Otago University, and undertook post-graduate training in Wellington and London. He worked as a consultant physician at Tauranga Hospital for thirty years, where his main clinical interest was in general medicine, and subspecialties included respiratory medicine and rheumatology. Other roles Neil held included: senior lecturer, Auckland University of Auckland Medical School; president of IMSANZ, and its NZ predecessor; examiner for RACP; and Director of Clinical Training, BOPDHB.

Dr Ben Schrader 1965 - 2024

Ben, a founding trustee of CLL Advocates, helped establish our Trust in March 2019 alongside Neil Graham, Gillian Corbett, and Rebecca Graham. Despite his intermittent remission, he dedicated significant time to advocating for CLL patients.

Ben led key initiatives, including a multi-patient march on Parliament in 2019 to petition for government funding of ibrutinib and venetoclax, and presented our case to a Health Select Committee. In 2021, he appeared before the Pharmac Review Panel, and in 2022, he contributed to and presented our submission on the Pae Ora Bill.

Ben's substantial contributions and willingness to take on public roles, despite preferring to work behind the scenes, greatly advanced our cause.