| Helen Rollason MBE | |
|---|---|
Helen at the European Swimming Championships in 1993 |
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| Born | Helen Frances Rollason 11 March 1956 England, United Kingdom |
| Died | 9 August 1999 (aged 43) Brentwood, Essex, England, United Kingdom |
| Occupation | Journalist, presenter, newsreader |
| Notable credit(s) | Grandstand Newsround BBC Six O'Clock News |
Helen Frances Rollason MBE (11 March 1956 - 9 August 1999) was a British sports journalist and television presenter.
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Born 11 March 1966, Helen Rollason was an adopted child.[1] She was born in London, grew up in Bath and studied at Chelsea School of Physical Education, Eastbourne and Dalhousie University, in Canada. She worked as a PE teacher, was a member of TeamBath Athletics Club, and played hockey at county level. She was, quite simply, a self confessed sports nut.[2]
In 1980 Rollason became deputy sports editor for Radio Essex.[1] After a spell as a freelance sports producer and presenter, Rollason become a presenter of the children's news show Newsround.[1] She became the first female presenter of the BBC sports programme Grandstand on 19 May 1990. During her tenure on the show, she presented coverage of the 1992 and 1996 Summer Olympics. She also presented the sports news on BBC Breakfast.[1] In 1999, she became the Friday sports presenter on the BBC Six O'Clock News.[1]
Shortly before Rollason died she was awarded an MBE in the Queen's 1999 birthday honours for services to broadcasting and charities.[1] “I cried when I received the news,” she said. “I don’t feel I deserve it but I’m very thrilled that so many women are coming through in sport broadcasting now.” [3]
A Helen Rollason Award was set up at the annual BBC Sports Personality of the Year awards [4]
A Helen Rollason Award for Inspiration was set up by the Sunday Times Sportswomen of the Year Awards. 2009's winner Dee Caffari [5] became the first female to sail solo, non-stop in both directions around the world.[6]
She had a daughter, Nikki, with husband John; they later divorced.[1]
In 1997, she was diagnosed with cancer of the colon, which later metastasised to her liver and lungs.[1] A 1998 documentary, Hope for Helen, followed her fight. Rollason became involved in charity work, raising £5 million for a cancer wing at North Middlesex hospital.[1] Rollason died on 9 August 1999 at the age of 43, in Brentwood, Essex.[1]
The Helen Rollason Cancer Charity was set up in her name. The charity funds and operated four cancer support centres – two in Essex, one in Hertfordshire and a fourth in London. Lord Coe is the charity's patron.[7]
The charity also funds an extensive research programme into the disease. A team of scientists are working on a number of projects at the Helen Rollason Laboratory [8][9] based at Anglia Ruskin University in Chelmsford, Essex. A dedicated team of research nurses meanwhile care for cancer patients on clinical drug trials. [10]