28
Nov 2024
Liz Hatton, teenage photographer, dies of cancer aged 17
Liz Hatton, the Harrogate teenager who had been battling a rare and aggressive form of cancer, died in the early hours of yesterday morning.
Liz, who went to Harrogate Grammar School, first fell ill in January, and was diagnosed with desmoplastic small round cell tumour, a sarcoma so rare that only 12 cases are recorded each year. Only 15% of those diagnosed survive beyond five years.
In a post on X, formerly Twitter, her mother Vicky wrote:
Our incredible daughter Liz died in the early hours of this morning. She remained determined to the last. Even yesterday she was still making plans. We are so very proud of the kindness, empathy and courage she has shown in the last year. She was not only a phenomenal photographer, she was the best human, and the most wonderful daughter and big sister we could ever have asked for.
No one could have fought harder for life than she did. There is a gaping Liz shaped hole in our lives that I am not sure how we will ever fill. We have so much gratitude to every single one of you, whether you offered to help, or liked or shared posts - you ensured Liz’s last two months were her very best. She flew high until the end.
Liz faced her illness with an inspiring degree of fortitude and positivity, and a fundraising appeal raised £14,000 within just four days. Her brother Mateo, who was seven years old at the time, even shaved his head to raise funds for the appeal.
All the money raised paid for treatment and also helped to buy photography equipment for Liz, whose dream was to become a professional photographer.
She filled her last months by photographing people and events on her 'bucket list'. A talented photographer, she took pictures of the Royal Ballet, catwalk models, comedian Michael McIntyre and drag queens from Ru Paul's Drag Race. In October, she met the Prince and Princess of Wales and photographed recipients of awards at an investiture at Windsor Castle.
But her mother is determined that the end of Liz's life should not be the end of her story. In her X post she said:
We have two last favours to ask. Firstly, we would like to ask you to share one of her photos – on your social media, or in real life, however you can. Let’s let her go out with a bang. #LizHatton (photos will follow in a thread but do also feel free to choose your own from @lizhatton_photography on Instagram)
Secondly, if you can, we would like you to help us with a mission to raise money to fund research into Desmoplastic Small Round Cell Tumour. With no charity in the UK or internationally funding into effective treatments are lacking.
In 2024 a 15% 5-year survival rate is simply not enough. Together we can change that. Whether you can share, donate or raise funds – please be our village one more time. Let’s make this the last item on her bucket list and make sure other families don’t face a similar fate.
Donations can be made via a new JustGiving page set up by Vicky here.
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