21
Jan
Photos by late Harrogate teen Liz Hatton to go on sale at fundraiser
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Photos taken by a Harrogate teenager who died of a rare form of cancer will go on sale at a fundraiser this weekend.
Liz Hatton, 17, died just months after she was diagnosed with desmoplastic small round cell tumour (DSRCT) in February 2024.
It is a sarcoma so rare only 12 cases are recorded each year, and survival rates are poor.
Since Liz's death the following November, her mother Victoria has made it her mission to raise vital funds and awareness of the condition to prevent other families meeting a similar fate.
She has since established Capture, a dedicated DSRCT charity, and is raising money to support families affected by the condition.
As part of Capture's fundraising efforts, Food and Photos will be held at Fewston Parochial Hall this Saturday and Sunday (January 24 and 25).
People can look forward to soup, sandwiches and baked goods on sale. Alongside her family, Liz's school friends and their parents will also be volunteering at the event.
A talented photographer, Liz captured some of the world’s most famous faces – including the Prince of Wales – in the months leading up to her death.
A selection of her work and calendars of her photos will be on sale at the event and, along with money raised from food sales, all proceeds will go towards continuing Capture's work.
Sir Mark Cavendish receiving his knighthood from Prince William in the investiture room at Buckingham Palace. Credit: Liz Hatton
Victoria said:
We are raising money to support patients with DSRCT and their families. We want to make sure that everyone diagnosed knows someone is out there fighting for them.
This might mean sending a care package during a long hospital stay, arranging a family day out, or sending a gift to a newly bereaved sibling.
We are working hard to find research and hope eventually that we will be able to improve survival rates, but in the meantime we are determined to do all we can to give people the best lives we can.
Food and Photos, which is free to attend, will take place from 10.30am until 4pm on January 24 and 25.
Venom: The Last Dance premiere. Credit: Liz Hatton.
The making of Capture
In the wake of her Liz’s death, Victoria channelled her grief into setting up Capture.
Victoria and the Capture team have raised £150,000 since Liz's diagnosis.
Capture is a charity for those with DSRCT and their families. Our primary purpose so far has been to fund research. We have funded our first project, which is being done in conjunction with the Children’s Cancer and Leukaemia Group and York University.
That’ll hopefully start in February… they will start finding all the information [on the condition] and putting it all together.
Capture has also connected with other families – some from different continents – affected by DSRTC.
When the Stray Ferret asked Victoria if there has been a stand-out moment since Capture was born, she told us at the time:
It would have to be the day we were contacted by a family who said they’d had a diagnosis the day before. It was a weekend, and they said they couldn’t talk to anybody and asked to ring us.
[When Liz was diagnosed] we were scrolling and scrolling, thinking: ‘Where can we find some information? Where can we find someone?’. But that made me think we’re doing the right thing… it’s a way of bringing together a community that’s never had that before, and that feels really important.
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