My Thyroid and Me: A Young Person’s Cancer Story has been shortlisted for a Smiley Charity Film Award, and it feels right to reflect on the journey that brought it here and on the people who shaped it.
Butterfly Thyroid Cancer Trust approached us with a very particular challenge. Thyroid cancer in young people is rare, and families are often left searching for information that is clear, honest and not frightening. The brief asked us to create something that could speak to children and young people, as well as their parents or carers, at a moment when anxiety is already high. The film needed to explain complex medical concepts and guide viewers through the treatment pathway in a way that informed without overwhelming.
The client was clear from the outset that the film needed a real young person’s voice at its centre. Molly and her mum Rebecca brought that honesty and perspective in a way no scripted approach could have achieved. Molly was fifteen during treatment and shared her experience with a level of clarity and courage that shaped the entire piece.
Clinicians added their insight, helping us cover everything from physiology to surgery to nuclear medicine in a manner that young viewers could follow. The turning point came when we learned that Molly is an artist. Her illustrations allowed us to carry the audience through anatomy and treatment, not with clinical diagrams but with something warmer and more human.
It gave the film its visual language and helped us keep everything age appropriate, accurate and reassuring. When the film was released in January 2025, the response from the thyroid cancer community was deeply encouraging. Parents spoke about feeling seen. Young people said it helped them understand what was ahead. Clinicians noted how clearly the information was presented. The film was later shown at the World Thyroid Cancer Conference in Boston and was well received by more than one hundred specialists who have since adopted it as both a patient resource and a training tool.
Butterfly Thyroid Cancer Trust captured the impact well in their feedback. They described how the project required sensitivity, care and a strong grasp of the medical content. They spoke about the warmth and authenticity Molly’s artwork brought, and how much the clarity and structure of the final film meant to families. For us, that is exactly what thoughtful healthcare and charity film making is meant to achieve. It should meet people where they are, offer understanding at difficult moments and give space to stories that help others feel less alone.
Being shortlisted for a Smiley Charity Film Award is a welcome recognition of that work. If you are able to vote for the film, it would mean a great deal to everyone involved, including Molly and her family.
