Cottenham mum to honour memory of daughter Emily Parsons as part of The Great Celebrity Bake Off for Stand Up To Cancer
A mum whose daughter died of a rare incurable spinal cord tumour will see her short life honoured in a heartbreaking film broadcast tonight (Tuesday, April 12), as part of Channel 4’s The Great Celebrity Bake Off for Stand Up To Cancer.
Lisa Smart, 55, from Cottenham, will pay tribute to her daughter, Emily Parsons, who died on May 6 last year, just six months after being told her cancer was incurable. She was 22 years old.
Despite her rare diagnosis, Emily raised more than a staggering £100,000 to support research into tumours like hers being carried out by Cancer Research UK’s Children’s Brain Tumour Centre of Excellence at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge.
Now, Lisa hopes to continue Emily’s legacy by supporting Stand Up To Cancer, the joint fundraising campaign from Cancer Research UK and Channel 4 that aims to accelerate new cancer tests and treatments to those who need them most.
Lisa said: “Emily was incredibly kind and caring. She was completely selfless in everything she did, and she was just finding her place in the world.
“From when she was diagnosed, not once did she show any anger, bitterness or self-pity, and worried only for those around her. I was just so proud of her. We had an incredibly close bond.
“Emily committed the little time she had left to helping others and now I hope to do the same in her memory for Stand Up To Cancer. No family should have to face this. As a mum, I should be there to protect her, but I couldn’t. It’s the hardest thing ever to say goodbye to your baby.”
Since its launch in 2012, Stand Up To Cancer has raised more than £93million to fund 59 clinical trials and research projects across the UK.
Michael Jarvis, Cancer Research UK spokesperson for Cambridgeshire said: “We’re so grateful to Lisa for helping us continue our mission after losing young Emily to her rare tumour. 1 in 2 of us will get cancer in our lifetime, but all of us can play a part to help beat it. That’s why we’re asking everyone to Stand Up To Cancer and raise money this spring.
“Every penny will go directly to cutting-edge research, helping our tireless scientists to speed up progress and save lives.”
To donate or fundraise in support of Stand Up To Cancer visit su2c.org.uk/bake-off.