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Jun
Family of Harrogate teen Liz Hatton to hold fundraiser in aid of new cancer charity
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The family of a Harrogate teenager who died from a rare form of cancer is holding a fundraising event in aid of a new charity.
Former Harrogate Grammar School pupil, Liz Hatton, died aged 17 on November 27, 2024.
Her death came just 10 months after being diagnosed with a rare and aggressive soft tissue sarcoma called desmoplastic small round cell tumour in February last year.
The condition is so rare only 12 cases are recorded each year, meaning little research into it had been done at the time of Liz’s diagnosis. Currently, there are no specific treatments.
Liz was described as making everyone she met feel special, and her death was felt both locally and nationally.
The way she and her family faced her final months touched the lives of millions – including the royal family – but the prognosis was bleak from the outset.
Following her death, Liz’s family set up Capture Desmoplastic Small Round Cell Tumour Charity – a charity dedicated to raising vital funds into researching the condition and increasing awareness.
The charity is set to hold its inaugural fundraising event this month – a 24-hour ‘swim and stitch’ - as part of its efforts to raise £100,000.
The event, which will take place at Hollins Hall in Hampsthwaite from June 20 to 21, is the brainchild of Liz's nine-year-old brother, Mateo.
Capture said Mateo, whose favourite hobbies are swimming and knitting, felt there were few resources dedicated to desmoplastic small round cell tumour when his sister was unwell.
As part of the charity’s fundraising mission, Mateo is aiming to knit and swim for the whole 24 hours and has invited others to join.
The charity added:
We would love others to come along and join Mateo; you can come for as little as 30 minutes or stay for the whole event. Whether you can swim, knit or crochet we’d love you to be involved.
People can swim or stitch – or do both – and can book a slot by clicking here.
The charity also said:
We'd love to complete some blankets made of combined squares, but we have had lots of yarn donated, so people are also welcome to make something of their choosing. It's also OK to bring along a project you are already working on for yourself.
Victoria (L) with Liz and her family. Credit: Victoria Hatton Facebook
People are also encouraged to take part in the event remotely by sending the charity photos of them swimming or stitching.
Following Liz's death, her family raised a mammoth £100,000. The funds were put towards collating the limited information on the condition available into one accessible document, which Victoria hopes will be used by physicians as more research into the condition is done.
The latest round of fundraising will go towards another research project, which will look into how desmoplastic small round cell tumour survival rates can be improved.
Currently, just 15% of people living with the condition survive for more than five years, but Liz’s family and the charity want to change that.
Liz’s bucket list
Liz was a hugely talented photographer and captured some of the world’s most famous faces in the lead up to her death.
When Victoria shared her daughter’s photography bucket list on social media in May 2024, no one could have imagined the opportunities that would come Liz’s way.
During her last months, Liz photographed the recipients of an investiture at Windsor Castle in October, as well as members of the Royal Family, where she was also pictured embracing the Princess of Wales.
Liz was determined to make sure everyone knew how kind the princess was, Victoria previously told the Stray Ferret.
She photographed drag queens from BBC Drag Race UK; comedian Michael McIntyre; the Royal Ballet; a film premiere; the Royal Variety Show; Leeds Pride; a film set and more.
You can find a gallery of some of Liz’s photos here or on her Instagram page.
Following Liz’s death, an exhibition was held in her memory. The Stray Ferret attended the event, where her papa, Aaron Robayna Thompson, told us:
What people don’t know is the pain and suffering she went through to take these pictures. I’ve never met anyone with such strength. It’s not just how talented she was, but also her level of drive.
She never complained. She never asked, ‘why me?'.
The Stray Ferret covered Liz’s last months and the aftermath of her death extensively. You can find a number of stories about her on our website.
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