Friday 11 March 2016

Helen Rollason


Every year at the BBC Sports Personality of the Year (SPOTY) ceremony, there is an award given "for outstanding achievement in the face of adversity". This award is named after the former BBC sports presenter and journalist Helen Rollason, who died in August 1999 after a 2 year battle with cancer of the colon, spreading to her liver.

After her diagnosis, she helped raise over £5m to set up a cancer wing at the North Middlesex Hospital where she received much of her treatment.

Recipients of the award include the likes of horse racing trainer Jenny Pitman, Paralympian sprinter Oscar Pistorius, boxer Michael Watson, snooker player Paul Hunter and Grand National winning jockey Bob Champion.


Helen would have been celebrating her 60th birthday today (11th March 2016)