Lorna’s pride at top award
A charity fundraiser has spoken of her pride after being awarded with a Cancer Research UK Flame of Hope award.
Lorna Dempsey raised almost half a million pounds to help save lives after losing a close friend to breast cancer.
Now she’s received a national award from Cancer Research UK in recognition of her outstanding contribution to the cause.
The charity’ s annual Flame of Hope Awards acknowledge remarkable efforts in fundraising and volunteering made by people from all walks of life.
Mum of one Lorna scooped the Fundraising Volunteer of the Year accolade, beating off stiff competition from across the UK.
She was congratulated at a special online presentation. Lorna, from Dalmellington, was first inspired to fundraise after a friend died from breast cancer aged just 32.
Since then, Lorna’s exceptional dedication to Cancer Research UK has seen her lead a committee that’s raised £ 480,000 with imaginative events including an annual Butterfly Ball and a Butterfly Bazaar ladies day out.
Lorna, 42, said: “I called them butterfly events as they reminded me of my friend - arty, flighty and beautiful.
“I was determined to do everything I could to help people going through cancer.”
In 2014, Lorna added an annual 10K Hillbilly cross country run at Craigengillan Estate, near Dalmellington to the events portfolio helped by her brother Brian Yates, 38. The fun run raised more than £ 4,000 after going ahead in February this year but the other Butterfly events planned for later in 2020 had to be cancelled as the Coronavirus pandemic unfolded.
Lorna said: “We would have hit the half a million mark if 2020 had been an ordinary year.
“But we’ll get there and we’ll come back stronger.
“Cancer is such a cruel disease. Almost everyone knows someone who has been through it and I believe funding research is the key to saving more lives.”
Lorna, a production manager at Ayr’s Alex Begg & Co, runs all the events from her butterfly- themed spare bedroom, supported by her husband Craig, 42, and her daughter Eve, five.
She’s also built up a strong friendship with Cancer Research UK fundraising committee members on the Isle of Lewis, sharing ideas for hosting events and even visiting the island on holiday.
Michelle Mitchell, Cancer Research UK’s chief executive, said: “The Flame of Hope awards give us the opportunity to celebrate and say thank you to our enormously generous volunteers and supporters for their fantastic work. Covid- 19 has slowed us down but we will never stop. We are determined to continue our research to create better treatments for tomorrow.”