Hamish Graham wins BBC Radio Manchester ‘Make a Difference Gold Award’

Local fundraiser Hamish Graham – who is fighting cancer for a second time – has been bestowed with a ‘Make a Difference Gold Award’ by BBC Radio Manchester.

Nominated by his mum, Sarah, Hamish was named a joint winner of the Triumph Over Adversity award alongside Derrick Evans from Mossley, who set up a cancer charity after beating the disease four times.

After becoming ill during the first lockdown, 25-year-old Hamish, of Milnrow, was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.

Almost immediately, he decided to start work on a book to help other young people as well as start up some fundraising for the Teenage Cancer Trust, raising an incredible £13,000 for the charity.

He also built a 4,000-piece lego Old Trafford between bouts of chemo and treatment at The Christie.
 

Read more: Cancer patient from Milnrow to build Old Trafford from LEGOPublished: 06 October 2020

Hamish was previously diagnosed with a brain tumour when he was seven, undergoing surgery, radiotherapy and 18 months of chemotherapy at Pendlebury Children’s Hospital.

Mum Sarah told Radio Manchester: “To be diagnosed with cancer twice, during Covid and go into isolation at the Christie, to smile every day, to think about other people and not himself, he is truly unique. I saw the award and just thought that’s got Hamish’s name written all over it.”

The BBC Radio Manchester ‘Make a Difference Gold Awards’ celebrate brilliant people and organisations that put the 'Great' into Greater Manchester.

Ahead of nominations closing at the end of October, the people of Greater Manchester nominated family, friends, neighbours, local organisations, countless people who helped make a difference.

Hamish and his fundraising challenges can be followed on Facebook via:

• www.facebook.com/HamishsChallenge

To donate, please visit:

• www.justgiving.com/fundraising/hamish-graham