Every year Future Dreams gives this award to an exceptional person who seeks to make life better for the breast cancer community.
A humanitarian is someone who seeks to improve people’s lives, reduce suffering and believes in social reform. There is no one who works more tirelessly to do all the above for the breast cancer community than the worthy recipient of this year’s Future Dreams Humanitarian Award, Dr Liz O’Riordan.
Liz has made the unenviable transition from hugely-respected breast cancer surgeon to breast cancer patient. She has experienced life on both sides and now campaigns fearlessly, adding her voice of expertise to inform and educate the breast cancer community.
The internet can be a bit like the Wild West in terms of advice for breast cancer patients – medical claims can be made with little scientific backup. It is to Liz that the community turns to separate the facts from the flam. Her social media and YouTube channels explain things simply and charismatically. Liz asks the questions and speaks out, when it is needed.
“I cannot tell you how much it means to be recognised by Future Dreams for everything I’ve done to help breast cancer patients since my own diagnosis, and to join the list of incredible women who have also received the award. It can be hard to know what impact my work has, and this award is like a thank you from my incredible online community.” Dr Liz O’Riordan
From her beautiful Suffolk home, she also shares the updates on her own prognosis – the challenges, the down days and the good – in a way that makes it feel she is sitting in your front room.
Executive Director of Future Dreams, Sam Jacobs says, ‘We’re so proud to give Liz this award. It means so much to the breast cancer community to have her in our camp. She translates medical issues into easily understandable dialogue that you don’t need to be a doctor to understand. Her honesty, intelligence and compassion make her the perfect winner of this award.’
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Sylvie and Danielle began Future Dreams with just £100 in 2008. They believed nobody should face breast cancer alone. Their legacy lives on in Future Dreams House. We couldn’t continue to fund support services for those touched by breast cancer, raise awareness of breast cancer and promote early diagnosis and advance research into secondary breast cancer without your help. Please consider partnering with us or making a donation.