A Dundee woman who lost her grandfather to cancer has won a national award in recognition of her tireless fundraising to help save lives.
Terri-Louisa Smith scooped the Flame of Hope young volunteer of the year award from Cancer Research UK.
Selfless Terri, who has raised more than £28,000 for the charity, picked up the award at a ceremony in London hosted by Cancer Research UK’s chairman, Michael Pragnell.
Terri was devastated after her granddad Roger Smith died from pancreatic cancer in May 2013. The loss left Terri determined to do everything she can to help beat cancer.
She asked friends to make donations to help fund life-saving research then threw all her energies in to organising events to raise even more.
Terri, now 22, said: “I feel honoured and overwhelmed to win this award. I think there was also a sense of shock.
“To be recognised out of the whole of the UK is really special as I know many thousands of people fund-raise for Cancer Research UK.
“It’s hard to pick one thing specifically that I miss about someone who left such a massive hole in my family.
“Often it’s the simple things that make me realise how much I miss my granddad.
“It’s things like going to visit my gran every week and seeing his seat empty. I miss my granddad when I go to Dundee United games. Semi-finals and cup finals have been hardest.”
Sarah Johnston, Cancer Research UK local fundraising manager, said: “Terri has demonstrated outstanding support for Cancer Research by raising £28,000. To raise that amount of money in such a short space of time is incredible.”