A Killearn mum who last month appeared on MasterChef is hoping to raise funds towards a charity in memory of a teenager who died from a rare type of bone cancer.
We previously told how Lisa Addison, originally from Stirling, wowed judges on the latest series of the hit cooking show before being eliminated.
Now the 39-year-old is hoping to use her exposure on the series in order to raise some much-needed funds in memory of 14-year-old Yorkshire lad Frank Ashton who died from Ewing’s Sarcoma.
Ewing’s sarcoma is a rare type of cancerous tumour that grows in the bones or the soft tissue around the bones, such as the cartilage or nerves.
Frank was diagnosed with the disease at the age of just 11 in 2016 and the youngster died in September 2019.
His family have since set up a massive fundraising effort, Frank’s Fund, to aid the research of the disease.
Lisa came across Frank’s tragic story on social media and, having been personally affected by cancer previously, decided she wanted to play her part in raising cash for Bone Cancer Research Trust in Frank’s honour.
She is raising cash by offering people the chance to win a meal cooked by her.
Lisa told the Stirling Observer : “I came across Frank’s Fund on Instagram by sheer accident. This little boy’s face staring back at me and so I clicked on the post.
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“Cancer has affected me personally as I lost my gran to breast cancer as a kid and have watched friends as an adult battle many forms of this awful illness. It hits differently when you hear about a child with cancer though.
“I reached out to Frank’s mum, Louise, and we got chatting. I said to her I was involved in a project, which I couldn’t at the time go into detail about – it was MasterChef and top secret – but that in a few weeks time I might be able to help her get Frank’s story out there and help raise valuable funds for their precious charity.
“I was really happy when a few weeks later I was able to was able to tell Louise it was MasterChef I was involved with and by that time my social media had grown quite significantly too.
“MasterChef has turned my life upside down in the biggest way possible, and now I’ve found myself able to help Frank’s Fund and bring it to people’s attention.”
She added: “I decided to offer people the chance to win dinner for four cooked by myself or eight pizzas. I’ve offered pizzas because I’m powered by Ooni – a pizza oven firm – and working together with them through my Lisa@home food business.
“The competition has only been going a week and already I’ve raised £670. I’m absolutely blown away by people’s kindness. It’s a win-win situation, dinner cooked by a MasterChef contestant and we get Frank’s story out there.
“I’m so proud to be an ambassador for Frank’s Fund, and really honoured to be able to tell Frank’s story. I wish it wasn’t a story about him losing his fight. But together we can help other kids and families.”
Ooni have vowed to match the funds Lisa raises towards the cause.
To enter the competition to win the meal go to Lisa’s Facebook page – Lisa at Home.
For more information on Frank’s Fund, go to https://www.bcrt.org.uk/get-involved/tribute-funds/franks-fund
