Addingham doctor Shaunna Burke has won an award after becoming the first woman with incurable cancer to climb Mount Everest.
Dr Shaunna Burke won the Fundraiser Award at the 2026 BBC Radio Leeds Make a Difference Awards for supporting Macmillan Cancer Support.
Diagnosed with incurable stage four breast cancer in 2024, Dr Burke has since undergone a double mastectomy, liver surgery and radiotherapy.
She has continued working as an associate professor at the University of Leeds, researching how exercise affects cancer patients preparing for treatment and surgery.
Rugby star and royal family member Mike Tindall helped judge the awards and praised Dr Burke’s achievements.
Mr Tindall said: "This individual has courage, resilience, and a generosity of spirit that really embodies the heart of this award.
"When you're affected by cancer personally, and then you're a doctor like Shaunna Burke and you hand over your body for tests.
"The fact that she's living and breathing it every single day of her life, showing her determination to cancer research, that sort of puts her on a pedestal of her own I think."
Dr Burke has drawn on her own cancer experience in her research and taken on several fundraising challenges.
In April 2026, she reached the summit of Mount Everest, raising significant funds for Macmillan Cancer Support.
Her determination to help people with cancer has inspired others across the region and beyond.
Now in their fifth year, the BBC Radio Leeds Make a Difference Awards honour people and groups who improve their communities.
Dr Burke was one of eight West Yorkshire winners recognised at the ceremony on Saturday, September 12.
Thousands of nominations were submitted from across the country.
Other winners included Suffia Hussain from Bradford’s Project on Guard, who won the Active Award, and Jade Lee from Dewsbury, who received the Volunteer Award.
Kate Wormald-Smith from Leeds won the Great Neighbour Award, while Harry Evans from Wakefield won the Young Hero Award.
Sue Shaw from the Huddersfield and District Badger Group won the Animal Award, while Kirklees group EPIKS took the Environmental Award.
The Sen Parent Support Group, founded by Andrea Dixon-Boldy in Kirklees, won the Community Group Award, supported by BBC Morning Live.
Judges including Mike Tindall, Kimberley Walsh, Balvinder Sopal, Anita Rani, Ellie Kildunne, Jack Carroll, Richie Anderson and Simon Grayson selected this year’s winners.
Bradford-born presenter and singer Kimberley Walsh said: "When BBC Radio Leeds asked me to judge the Community Group award, it was an immediate yes.
"I love this award.
"I think as you get older and you have a family and you have kids in school and in football groups and all these different community-led things, you really start to appreciate it more.
"These nominees are like unsung heroes that are not asking for the recognition, but they deserve it."
Keighley-born rugby player Ellie Kildunne MBE, runner-up at BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2026, also reflected on the awards.
Ms Kildunne said: "Sport and being active really does change people's lives, whether that's keeping them in school, keeping them fit and healthy, or if it's just giving them a passion to keep on going.
"You've got the power to inspire people to do some amazing things.
"It's a huge honour to judge the BBC Radio Leeds Active Award."
The Make a Difference initiative began during the Covid-19 pandemic to connect people in need with those able to help.
Tracy Gee, acting executive editor at BBC Radio Leeds, said: "Across West Yorkshire, we received more than 350 entries this year, with 32 individuals and groups shortlisted as finalists.
"Every one of them has been selected because of their remarkable contribution to the local community, making the county we work in and call home a better place."
Dr Burke reached the 8,849-metre summit at 3am on May 23, 2026, having begun the expedition with an ascent of Mera Peak.
The Everest challenge also formed part of a research project in collaboration with Leeds Beckett University, which monitored how Dr Burke adapted to low oxygen at high altitude.
The Everest project had raised more than £30,000 for Macmillan Cancer Support by May 28, 2026.
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