Person of the Month Sara Canning
In the face of unimaginable tragedy, Sara Canning has inspired us all with her dignity, courage and compassion. Her partner, 29-year-old journalist Lyra McKee, was murdered in Northern Ireland in April this year, but in the darkest of times, Sara has been spreading nothing but hope. Speaking at the DIVA Awards, where she announced a bursary for journalism in the name of her late partner, Sara said: “Since we lost her, our friends and I have started our own wee hashtag, #BeMoreLyra. It’s all about pushing ourselves outside our comfort zones and doing things that would otherwise scare us. That was Lyra McKee to a tee…DIVA are creating a uniquely ‘Lyra’ chance for a young person who might never have ventured outside their region or discovered the possibilities that lie beyond their comfort zone. This is a really solid way to carry on her legacy – to keep her work, spirit and love alive. This bursary shows young LBT journalists, ‘It won’t always be like this. It’s going to get better’.” Read more about the DIVA Awards on page 90.