A CHARITY supporting young people living with cancer has won a top award.

The Huddersfield-based Laura Crane Trust has been named as an innovative organisation in the TalkTalk Community Awards.

Staff at the charity say the win will help them develop a new communication forum for young people with cancer to share their experiences.

Pamela Thornes, the charity’s fund-raising manager, said: “We are absolutely thrilled.

“It is quite an achievement for such a small charity to be recognised in this way.

“We have grown a lot since we formed 11 years ago and winning awards like this really do help us move forward and encourage us on.”

In winning the award the trust received £2,000, which will help it to set up the forum for young cancer patients.

Ms Thornes said: “It will go towards purchasing equipment to set up a network on our website where young people can connect with others going through the same experience to help them with their feelings of loneliness and isolation.”

The trust was formed after the death of Laura, who died in 1996 when she was just 17.

She battled against four types of cancer.

The trust pays for research into cancers specifically affecting teenagers and young adults.

It also aims to improve the lives of the young cancer patients while they are in hospital.

Ms Thornes and Helen Mervill from the trust were invited to the House of Lords to receive the Innovation in the Community award.

Ms Thornes added: “It was brilliant to look around the House of Lords and it is so nice to be recognised in this way.

“We want to continue to support young people with cancer and make a real difference to their lives.”