Inspirational Yorkshire doctor Kate Granger dies of cancer at 34

KATE Granger, the inspirational, terminally-ill doctor from Yorkshire who raised £250,000 for cancer charities, has died aged 34.
Dr Kate GrangerDr Kate Granger
Dr Kate Granger

Dr Granger captured the attention of the nation by writing about her experiences with the illness as an NHS patient.

Her husband, Chris Pointon, tweeted the news of her death this morning.

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Her health had deteriorated in recent weeks and she passed away yesterday, on her 11th wedding anniversary.

Dr Granger, from East Ardsley, near Wakefield, was St Gemma’s Hospice in Moortown, Leeds, and Mr Pointon said the care and staff there were “fantastically amazing”.

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After being diagnosed with a rare and incurable cancer in 2011, aged just 29, she started a ‘Bucket List’. Charity fundraising and having a book published were both on her list and although Dr Granger expected the book to be a medical textbook, it was The Other Side – based on her experience as a patient – which began her and husband’s support of the Yorkshire Cancer Centre Appeal.

Dr Kate Granger with her husband Chris Pointon and chef Michel Roux Jr at the BMJ Awards.Dr Kate Granger with her husband Chris Pointon and chef Michel Roux Jr at the BMJ Awards.
Dr Kate Granger with her husband Chris Pointon and chef Michel Roux Jr at the BMJ Awards.

Initially, they wanted to raise £50,000 for the centre at St James’s Hospital but within two years they doubled that target.

The couple chose the Yorkshire Cancer Centre Appeal because they had experienced how it helps improve quality of life for cancer patients, and because it was small and local.

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Her books The Other Side and sequel The Bright Side raised much of the £250,000, while other fundraising exploits included a skydive, swimming the length of the English Channel, the Leeds 10k and a 13-mile trek in the Lake District, while her husband completed the 96-mile West Highland Way and completed a gruelling trek on the Great Wall of China.

Dr Kate Granger with her husband Chris Pointon and chef Michel Roux Jr at the BMJ Awards.Dr Kate Granger with her husband Chris Pointon and chef Michel Roux Jr at the BMJ Awards.
Dr Kate Granger with her husband Chris Pointon and chef Michel Roux Jr at the BMJ Awards.

Dr Granger’s campaign for more personalised and compassionate care has been supported all over the world and 400,000 health workers across 90 organisations are now backing the drive.

She was recognised with an MBE and awards including a Special Achievement Award from the BMJ.

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