A BRADFORD nurse who has dedicated her life to a leading cancer charity will today be honoured with the organisation’s highest volunteer award.

Beverly Hurst, who is based at the Bradford Royal Infirmary, will receive the  prestigious Douglas Macmillan Award from Macmillan Cancer Support for championing the work of the charity. The presentation – which will take place at the BRI’s maternity unit at 2.30pm – will be presented by Macmillan President, the Countess of Halifax.

“I’m absolutely delighted to be collecting the Douglas Macmillan Award today,” said Beverly (53). “It was a total surprise to hear I’d won the Award as I didn’t even know I had been nominated until I received the letter telling me the good news.”

”The award is wonderful but without the support of my family - and especially my long-suffering husband, Andrew - I wouldn’t be able to do half the fundraising.”

“But being told that you have cancer is a very difficult time for everyone involved, and I want to make sure we do everything we can to help and support patients and their families.”

Beverly works as a Macmillan clinical nurse specialist supporting and caring for women who have been diagnosed with a gynaecological cancer. Many local women have benefited from her expertise and understanding over the years.  Each year, around 100 women in the Bradford area are diagnosed with having one of the four main gynaecological cancers - ovarian, endometrial, vulval and cervical cancers.

Congratulating Beverly on her success, Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust’s Consultant Gynaecologist and Head of Gynaecological Cancers Services, Professor Peter O’Donovan, said: “Over the years Beverly has been a huge support to the gynaecological cancer support services in Bradford. She is a brilliant communicator and a great networker for relatives and patients who need the utmost support in very difficult circumstances”

“She is an exceptionally hard worker who always makes herself available, is highly professional, and I know she also visits hospices - not only in Bradford but in the wider area.”

“She is someone who always puts patients first, is a great colleague, the ultimate team-worker and I know a lot of her work goes unrecorded. I can think of no one more deserving of this national award.”

Mother-of-three, Beverly, is also chairperson of the Yorkshire Cancer Network for Gynaecology.

But in addition to her day job, Beverly also finds time to support Macmillan’s fundraising, campaigning and awareness-raising work, and this is what is being recognised by the Douglas Macmillan Award which is given to a volunteer who “makes a significant contribution to the work of Macmillan.”

Bradford Fundraising Manager, Mandy Child, explained: “Macmillan nurses have very demanding jobs so we really appreciate all the work Beverly does for Macmillan above and beyond this.” 

“Beverly was one of the founder members of the Bradford Macmillan fundraising group and helps Macmillan’s work in so many different ways from collecting at supermarkets to attending cheque collections, organising concerts and giving talks.  She has even abseiled twice for Macmillan, walked the ‘Shipley Stride’ and very generously asked guests at her Silver Wedding Party to make donations to the charity instead of giving presents.”

“She really has helped with local fundraising in Bradford and we are delighted that her tireless support is being recognised today. “

While Macmillan Director, Maureen Rutter, added: “Beverly is a wonderful champion for Macmillan both through her work as a nurse and through all she does to raise awareness of the charity and raise money to support our work.  I can think of no more deserving person to receive the Douglas Macmillan Award. “

In the past, Beverly, who is originally from Hull but who has lived in Bradford since her marriage in 1979, has also enlisted the support of her husband, Andrew, and his firm, Schofield Sweeney Solicitors, who have fundraised and sponsored events for Macmillan Cancer Support.

Derek Tuffnell, the Trust’s Clinical Director for Women’s and Children’s Services, said: “I am delighted that the huge amount of work and time that Beverly has put into supporting women and their families affected by gynaecological cancer is being recognised with this prestigious award.”

“She has provided enormous support for women particularly around terminal illness and support when women are dying. She has developed and organised improvements in the clinical service and has still found time to raise large amounts of money to support Macmillan and the work that they do. We are all enormously proud of her contribution to the service locally and regionally.”