Lizzy Buchan wins Flame of Hope Award for cancer coverage

EVENING News health reporter Lizzy Buchan has been honoured by Cancer Research UK for the 'exceptional' support she has shown the charity.

Lizzy Buchan. Picture: Lisa Ferguson

She has been praised for her sensitive approach to cancer stories, allowing her to beat off competition from across the UK to be crowned Media ­Supporter of the Year 2016.

The accolade forms part of the Flame of Hope Awards, hosted by the charity to acknowledge the efforts made by people from all walks of life to support, fundraise and volunteer for Cancer Research UK.

Lisa Adams, the Cancer Research UK spokeswoman for Scotland, said: “These awards are our way of honouring ­people, exceptional people like Lizzy who richly deserves this Flame of Hope award.

“Her articles about the cancer survivors who support us were sensitive, well written and went a long way to highlight Cancer Research UK’s work to beat cancer sooner.

“Every step we make towards beating cancer sooner relies on every pound, every hour and every person.”

Lizzy is set to pick up the award at a ceremony in ­London in June, hosted by Cancer Research UK chairman Michael Pragnell.

An audience at Merchant Taylors’ Hall will hear how Lizzy has shown exceptional support for the charity with a series of first class articles.

These include sensitively written pieces on cancer ­survivors, such as the compelling story of Irene Donaldson who overcame breast cancer to sign up for Race for Life with Sing in the City, a choir of friends who helped her through the dark times.

Lizzy raised a smile with the story of Hibs fan Kathleen ­Fraser and her Jambo husband Paul, who dropped club rivalries to promote unity bands for World Cancer Day.

Lizzy said: “I am honoured to be named Media Supporter of the Year by Cancer Research UK, a charity that I admire both within the context of my work and outside of it.

“As with so many people, I have lost loved ones to this disease and I am proud that the work we do at the Evening News is contributing in a small way to beating cancer.

“It is an extraordinary privilege to write about those fighting cancer, as well as the ground-breaking work done by scientists and staff at Cancer Research UK. None of these stories would be possible without their courage or grace.”

Further pieces by Lizzy include an exclusive revealing that patients were missing out on radiotherapy treatment due to a skills shortage.

She has also been recognised for skilfully handling science stories, explaining in an engaging way highly complex cancer breakthroughs.