Rotherham teenager's cancer film wins national award

Lulu was diagnosed with Ewing's Sarcoma in 2019 at the age of 15

A film about a teenager who died of cancer has won a national award.

Lulu: Forever 19 is about Lulu Blundell, a student from Rotherham who died at home on New Year's Day 2023.

It focuses on the 19-year-old's positivity despite living with the illness and was nominated for a Smiley Charity Film Award.

The film was made by the Teenage Cancer Trust, with Heather Bowen, from the charity, saying it was "incredible" to see it take the prize.

Lulu's mum Carolyn previously said while nothing eased the pain of losing a child, "some comfort comes from seeing even a little good come from it".

Ms Blundell was diagnosed with Ewing's Sarcoma in 2019 at the age of 15.

After eight months of chemotherapy, and after having to have her leg amputated, she was told she was cancer-free.

However, it came back in 2020 and the teenager decided not to undergo chemotherapy a second time.

Lulu Blundell is shown in the film finishing a 5k run to raise money for the Teenage Cancer Trust

The film, which cost just £330 to make, was released in May last year as part of the Teenage Cancer Trust's #talkaboutdying campaign.

The organisers of the Smiley Charity Film Awards highlighted the teenager's "inspiring words and reflections on living with cancer and a terminal diagnosis read out by her mum Carolyn".

The film won gold in the People's Choice Award last month, and Ms Bowen thanked those who took the time to vote.

She said: "We are so grateful to Lulu's family for allowing us to share her story through this beautiful film, which celebrates Lulu's life and the Teenage Cancer Trust and NHS staff who go above and beyond to support young people with cancer."