Research fellowship to be named after Emma Hannigan

A CANCER research fellowship is to be named in honour of the late Emma Hannigan, Breast Cancer Ireland has announced.

Bray author Emma died on March 3. She had battled cancer 10 times in 13 years.

She spent her last weeks urging her friends and fans to donate to Breast Cancer Ireland, raising more than € 126,000.

Dubray Books also committed to donate proceeds from her recently-released book ‘Letters to My Daughter’ to the charity, and were able to make a donation of €18,000.

Breast Cancer Ireland (BCI) is working with the Royal College of Surgeons on a three-year research project. Dr Damir Varislija has been awarded the fellowship.

‘ The naming of this fellowship in Emma’s honour recognises her valuable contribution to our research efforts and it ensures her memory lives on in transforming the landscape of breast cancer in Ireland into the future,’ said Aisling Hurley of BCI in a statement.

Ms Hurley said on RTE’s Morning Ireland that Emma’s life had been extended due to developments in cancer treatment.

‘Each time she was diagnosed there was a new drug or clinical trial that she could avail of,’ she said.

She said that Emma’s family are thrilled that the fellowship will be named in her honour.

The charity will continue to raise funds for the research project after its three-year run.