Tribute paid to Dalkeith "beacon of light" Karen who lost battle with breast cancer aged just 48

Devoted mum and wife Karen Henderson who fronted a campaign calling on the Scottish government not to “forget” the needs of cancer patients during the pandemic has passed away, age 48.

Friends have paid tribute to Karen, describing her as “a beacon of light to everyone” who was generous to the end.

Karen wrote a heart-breaking letter to her husband Alistair, 58, that he was to read after she had passed away. She finished it by telling him she was “Off to dance with the stars in the sky.”

Karen married Alistair surrounded by family in their garden last year, saying it was her ‘dream come true’ after the couple had been together for a decade.

The mum-of-one was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer with a faulty BRCA1 gene in May 2016, then secondary breast cancer in 2018.

Following her diagnosis Karen, a Senior Anaylst for HSBC, worked tirelessly to raise cash for charities supporting cancer patients.

She teamed up with Lisa Flemming, founder of the charity, Make 2nds Count which supports women and men living with secondary breast cancer and recorded a hit video that went viral, helping raise more than £18,000.

They video “Sunshine on Dalkeith” inspired by the Proclaimers hit “I’m on my way” was filmed in Dalkeith and featured many of their friends, Midlothian’s KIC Dance group and a guest appearance by Dolly Parton. Karen’s Mum and Dad did a ‘Still Game’ star turn at the end of the video. Karen also helped organise a charity ball to raise money for Make 2nds Count with the help of girlfriends and husbands, including “The Fab Four” and “The Tiger Queens”.

The charity ball ticket sales and proceeds from the video netted more than £18,000.

Another two events organised by Karen and her friend Carol at the Sun Inn raised over £20,000 for Maggie’s.

Her close friend Phil Bowen said: “She had such a vibrant personality. Always good fun, always with a smile, always warm and always generous of spirit. Karen loved to shop and was always so well dressed; clothes were there to be coordinated with our Karen. At school events she was always to be found at the front of the queue, at least thirty minutes before the doors opened. She wanted a front row seat to see her son Tristan, the apple of her eye, the joy of her life.

Throughout her illness Karen was a beacon of light to everyone. As was her personality she was positive and steadfast in her determination to make the most of her situation and in that time she made sure she helped others.

"Karen’s oncologist, Olga, fought tirelessly over the last few years, researching chemotherapy treatments to ensure Karen had the best chance of life. Olga, Jay her surgeon and all the fantastic nursing staff at Spire Murrayfield were always in Karen’s heart.

“She lived her life to the full. Her cheeriness, her determination, her warmth, were an example to us all. Her cancer did not define her. She would say “I have cancer, cancer does not have me.”

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