Having started work in the care profession at the age of 14 in a local Nursing Home, Justine has continued to nurse hands-on to this day. Schooled at South Craven, Crosshills from 1981 to 1986 she then went on to study at Craven College, Skipton. In 1992 Justine Whitaker qualified as a Registered Nurse at St James’s University Hospital, Leeds. Her career took her into Vascular Surgery where her interest in the Lymphatic System evolved. As a Vascular/Lymphoedema Research Nurse, she developed Leeds’ first Lymphoedema Service. Having successfully achieved this with support from Macmillan, Justine then moved to East Lancashire where she developed services for Cancer-related Lymphoedema. In 2007 Justine won the Royal College of Nursing Journal – Nursing Standard ‘Nurse of the Year’ and the Innovation in Cancer award, sponsored by the Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust. (photo in gallery) This was for the invention; development and bringing to the international market of the ‘Whitaker Pouch’ a compression garment for Scrotal Oedema. In 2008 Justine also won the Association of Colleges Gold Award alongside; Baroness Campbell, Gok Wan, Richard McCourt, Andrew Iveson and Professor Sir Alec Jeffreys. (photo in gallery)

In 2010 she gained a Master’s Degree in Lymphoedema at Bradford University. Justine is also author to a number of publications in the medical press.

Justine is currently Director and Nurse Consultant of Northern Lymphology Ltd, Senior Lecturer at the University of Central Lancashire, Preston; and sits on the Editorial Board of Journal of Lymphoedema & Wounds UK. In 2011 Justine accepted a prestigious invitation from Professor Hugo Parstch, Austria to become a member of the ‘International Compression Club’.

Justine is married to Richard and they have two children, William and Charlotte. As a family they enjoy ‘playing out’. Weekends are usually filled with sailing on their boat ‘Shifty’ on Lake Windermere. On more windy days (Justine is a ‘fair weather’ sailor) they can be found usually in a forest on their Mountain Bikes. Justine enjoys cycling with her girlfriends too and has undertaken challenges for Charity such as London to Paris. Mist the Border Collie and Nora the black cat share their family home in the Forest of Bowland

Richard was born in Lancashire and boarded at Bootham School, York from 1975 to 1980. He then went on to study Business Studies at Nelson & Colne college until 1982. Richard joined the family run retail business which he expanded across Lancashire and Yorkshire, until 2010. Alongside this retail business, Richard also established his current company in Property Management. Along with Justine, Richard runs a successful Property Letting Company again across Lancashire and Yorkshire.

Richard is financial director of Northern Lymphology Ltd, where he supports the team in gaining contracts and balancing the accounts.

On his 8th day of the week (☺) Richards passion is sailing. He has recently qualified with the Royal Yacht Association (RYA) as a Coastal Skipper, along with many other certificates required for competences. His favorite waters are the West Coast of Scotland. Again as a family he likes ‘playing out’ on his bike and has been a keen cyclist for many years.

Richard is a very committed father and spends many hours with his children William and Charlotte, when he isn’t working.