​Selfless dedication to fundraising earns volunteer a prestigious award.

A Dundee woman who lost her granddad to cancer has won a national award in recognition of her tireless fundraising to help save lives.

Terri-Louisa Smith scooped the Flame of Hope young volunteer of the year award from Cancer Research UK.

The charity’s annual awards acknowledge remarkable efforts in fundraising and volunteering made by people from all walks of life.

Terri, who has raised more than £28,000 for the charity, picked up the award at a ceremony in London hosted by Cancer Research UK’s chairman, Michael Pragnell.

An audience at the Hotel Russell in Russell Square heard how Terri was devastated after her football-loving granddad Roger Smith died from pancreatic cancer in May 2013.

But the loss left Terri determined to do everything she can to help beat cancer.

Instead of asking for birthday presents to mark her 21st birthday she asked friends to make donations to help fund life saving research then threw all her energies in to organising events to raise even more.

Terri, now 22, said: “I feel honoured and overwhelmed to win this award.

“I think there was also a sense of shock. To be recognised out of the whole of the UK is really special as I know many thousands of people fundraise for Cancer Research UK. It’s hard to pick one thing specifically that I miss about someone who left such a massive hole in my family."

Among the fundraisers Terri has been recognised for is an annual charity football match between fans of Dundee United football club and Dundee football club and a hugely successful charity auction.

Sarah Johnston, Cancer Research UK local fundraising manager, said: “Our Flame of Hope awards give us the opportunity to celebrate and say thank you to our enormously generous volunteers and supporters for the fantastic work they do.

“Terri has demonstrated outstanding support for Cancer Research UK by raising an astonishing £28,000.

"To raise that amount of money in such a short space of time is incredible. Terri is only 22 but a great inspiring role model for all young people.”

Cancer Research UK spends over £31 million a year in Scotland on some of the UK’s leading scientific and clinical research, including a wide range of research in Dundee.