O’KANE HAILS LUNG CANCER SURVIVOR FOR “INSPIRING” RESPONSE TO HEALTH BATTLE

O’KANE HAILS LUNG CANCER SURVIVOR FOR “INSPIRING” RESPONSE TO HEALTH BATTLE

Local MSP Paul O’Kane has praised Liz Couser for her “inspiring” response to surviving lung cancer in a Scottish Parliament motion.

O’Kane learned of Liz’s fundraising efforts through one of his MSP ‘Street Surgeries’ in Johnstone.

Couser is championing the increase of screening for early detection of lung cancer.

Couser has also raised funds for the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation, the charity which provided her with exemplary support during treatment and recovery, by walking the length of the Forth and Clyde canal in November. 

Commenting MSP Paul O’Kane said:

“I was blown away by Liz’s story and the sheer determination she has to ensure that other people benefit from early detection and get the same quality of treatment that she did. 

“Her response to her own health battle – using the most difficult, personal situation as a motivation to improve conditions for others – is truly inspiring.

“Liz is rightly calling for improvements to lung cancer detection and treatment across the country and I’ll be glad to amplify her voice in the Scottish Parliament.”

Commenting Liz Couser said:

“It was a pleasure to be able to meet Paul and thank him personally for raising the motion in the Scottish Parliament.

“I am hopeful that the excellent and fast treatment I had for lung cancer due to early detection, will be made available to thousands more Scots far earlier than the Scottish government are currently planning.

“I’m currently cancer free because my cancer was caught so early, had I waited until I displayed symptoms, the outlook could have been very bleak.

“I’m very grateful that Paul has been so supportive of my efforts both to fundraise and to bring awareness to the need for the Scottish government to roll out early lung cancer screening and save lives.

“The recognition through the motion is much appreciated.”

Notes:

Liz’s Story: This is Liz. This is Lung Cancer – roycastle.org

S6M-19591 | Scottish Parliament Website

Motion Number: S6M-19591
Lodged By: Paul O’Kane
Date Lodged: 06/11/2025

Title: Liz Couser Walks to Raise Awareness of Lung Cancer

Motion Text:

That the Parliament understands that Liz Couser, a lung cancer survivor from Johnstone, plans to undertake three sponsored walks to raise awareness of lung cancer and raise funds for the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation; further understands that after completing the three sponsored walks during November, which is Lung Cancer Awareness Month, Liz will have walked the length of the Forth and Clyde Canal; notes that Liz, after becoming cancer-free, was determined to highlight the need for Scotland’s lung cancer screening provision to improve and to raise funds for the charity which helped with her own recovery; commends Liz for her determination to use her own experience of battling lung cancer as an inspiration to help others, and notes that Liz believes that her own treatment, which was provided by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, was exemplary and simply wants other people to get access to that same standard of care.