A young cancer patient who met the Princess of Wales after pursuing a photography bucket list has sadly died.
Liz Hatton passed away aged just 17, less than a year after being diagnosed with incurable desmoplastic small round cell tumour. Only 12 cases are found a year and and doctors said the inspirational teenager from Harrogate had six months to three years to live, depending on the effectiveness of chemotherapy.
Her mother Vicky Robayna has now paid tribute to her “incredible daughter” and the “kindness, empathy and courage” she showed. She added that there was now “a gaping Liz-shaped hole in our lives that I am not sure how we will ever fill”.
She stated: “Our lovely Liz died in the early hours of this morning. She remained determined to her last. Even yesterday she was telling me that I had better get nurses sorted so she could do more things. She went out in a blaze of glory with almost everyone she cared about seeing her for the last time at her exhibition last week.”
Liz, had written a bucket list of things she wanted to achieve, including getting her pictures published in magazines. She hit the headlines when she got a hug from the Princess of Wales after being given permission to shoot behind the scenes of an investiture at Windsor Castle.
Liz was joined at the investiture by her mother, stepfather Aaron and brother Mateo, and afterwards she was invited to have tea with the Waleses. She said of meeting the royals at the time: “I never thought I would get to do anything as massive as this. When I did my bucket list I just put some ideas down. I didn’t even think any of these things would happen.”
Last month she worked alongside press photographers at the premiere of Venom: The Last Dance. She was even snapping away on the red carpet of the Royal Variety Show last Friday.
Ms Robayna has offered her thanks to those who helped the teenager fulfil her dreams in her final months and those who liked and supported her work, adding: “You ensured Liz’s last two months were her very best. She flew high until the end.”
She asked people to share one of Liz’s photos in tribute, under the hashtag LizHatton, and also to support the family’s mission to fund research into Desmoplastic Small Round Cell Tumour, which has no charity specialising in the disease in the UK. Vicky has set up a fundraising page with a goal of raising £100,000.
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Kate, who herself was treated for cancer this year, and William, in a personal message earlier in the autumn, described Liz as a “talented young photographer whose creativity and strength has inspired us both”.
As part of her bucket list, she went on to photograph comedian Michael McIntyre, circus performers, the Royal Ballet, models from the Storm Model Agency, the London Air Ambulances from a helipad, hotel doormen, the red carpet at the MTV Europe Music Awards, and joined acclaimed British photographer Rankin to lead a fashion shoot.
Rankin previously paid tribute to her skill, telling the BBC: “The photos Liz has created… are really sophisticated images… She understands that it’s a creation.” He added: “It’s been a real privilege actually, watching her. I’ve been pretty redundant. She did exactly what an experienced photographer would do. Got involved, gave people directions, almost became the captain of the ship.”
Liz fulfilled what her mother described as her “biggest wish”, spending two days with Los Angeles-based portrait photographer David Suh, who flew from the US to work with her. Her project culminated in her own photography exhibition in London this month, showcasing her work.
Ms Robayna had revealed two days ago that Liz had become increasingly tired and how they were due to be celebrating Christmas early as a family at the end of this week, adding: “We know our time is short now.”
The former Harrogate Grammar School student had launched her own website devoted to her photography. It tells how she began taking photographs as soon as she could walk, saved to buy her first “real” camera aged nine and, at 11, chose her secondary school because they offered photography as a course.
She took GCSE photography and began her A-level to refine her skill. Taking photographs also helped Liz cope with her constant pain. “Every time she picks up her camera and focuses on new and exciting shoots it helps to distract her from the constant pain that she feels every second of every day. When taking photographs, the rest of the world doesn’t seem to matter as much,” the site said.
