Celebrities praise West Mids chief inspector

West Midlands Police has a star in its midst after Chief Inspector Fiona Irving was named the nation’s ‘Most Inspirational Fundraiser’ at the celebrity -packed Breakthrough Breast Cancer Inspiration Awards.

The glamorous event saw celebrities including Sandra Bullock and Nigella Lawson celebrating the inspirational people involved in the fight against breast cancer.

Ms Irving, from the Learning and Development Department of West Midlands Police was diagnosed with breast cancer last February and has since raised £11,500 for the charity.

Earlier this year she completed the Virgin London Marathon in less than eight hours. She had experienced severe back pain in the weeks leading to the marathon but fought on, determined not to let her supporters down. A hospital admission one week later showed she had suffered two broken vertebrae due to secondary spinal tumours.

The Breakthrough Breast Cancer award was nominated and voted for by the public.

Ms Irving said: “I am absolutely delighted and overwhelmed by the amount of support I have received following a public vote for this amazing national award.”

She added: “Being able to laugh in the face of cancer lets you continue to be in possession of yourself, hard though it may be, rather than ceding ownership of the disease. You are not your cancer and I am determined to raise money and awareness for Breakthrough Breast Cancer, who are committed to conducting vital research into the prevention and cure of cancer.”

Ms Irving has previously won the West Midlands Association for Women in Policing ‘Shaping the Future Award’ in 2009.