ITV producer Helen Addis gets MBE for ‘Change + Check’ cancer awareness and fundraising

“You have saved lives – we know that for sure and there will be many more that you save”

Lorraine Kelly was joined by the programme producer Helen Addis who this weekend was announced as an MBE honouree in the King’s Birthday Honours List for her services to cancer awareness and charitable fundraising.

Helen founded Lorraine’s breast cancer awareness campaign ‘Change + Check‘ in 2019, born from her own experience with breast cancer, and since then her commitment to creating awareness for breast cancer has resulted in more than 100 women and one man getting a life-saving diagnosis.

Her work on Lorraine has given a national platform to vital cancer awareness messages and her fundraising efforts have been tireless. Joining Helen in the studio today was Lorraine’s resident doctor, Dr Hilary Jones, alongside two members of the Change + Check choir, who both credit Helen for helping save their lives.

Gifting Helen some flowers in a boob vase, choir members Anne and Nicola surprised Helen with a live group call to the rest of the Change + Check choir, where Marie, who also sings in the choir, said: “Words can not express how much the rest of the girls and everyone that knows you in the Change + Check campaign are absolutely delighted for your achievement. It’s such a well deserved award. You’ve saved our lives – you mean so much to us. Thank you for all that you’ve done. You certainly saved my life and I know I probably speak for the rest of the girls. We love you!” 

Welcoming Helen into the studio, Dr Hilary Jones said: “This is so well deserved! Because from day one, you’ve been so positive helping other people. There would have been lows in your life when you were dealing with it [cancer], but you turned it into something positive, something therapeutic and you have saved lives – we know that for sure, and there will be many more that you save.” 

An emotional Helen replied: “Secretly, I do feel like I have had an MBE right from the start because I’ve felt like I’ve run this [campaign] and I have been a member of the boob empire, and now I feel like I’ve actually got a recognition for it which is amazing.” 

Discussing all the work in which Helen has contributed towards, Lorraine and Helen recall the Change + Check Boob Bus which they took across the UK and to 10 Downing Street, the hot air BOOB-loon, turning the 02 arena into a “massive boob” and not forgetting of course the creation of the Change + Check choir who reached No.1 in the UK Download Charts twice, performed at the Royal Variety show and most recently for the King and Queen at Buckingham Palace.

Lorraine surprised Helen with messages from some famous faces as Strictly’s Amy Dowden, who was awarded an MBE last year, said: “Congratulations on your MBE! I am so happy for you. You so deserve this and thank you for all you do!” before music icon Marti Pellow, who the Change + Check choir reached number one in the charts with last year, said: “Great news girl! Fantastic – I can’t believe it. All that hard work and passion that you’ve put into the charity is paying off for you and the recognition for it is fantastic.” 

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