AN invitation to be guest speaker at the Ladies Luncheon Club at Rudding Park Hotel, near Harrogate, this week was an opportunity to not only raise some more money for the Butterwick Children's Hospice but to underline the importance of campaigning journalism.
The Northern Echo campaign which followed the death of much-loved friend and colleague Ian Weir, at the age of 38, was given as a powerful example.
Ian, an award-winning photographer at the Echo, and dad-of-two, died 16 years ago because he had to wait eight months for an "urgent" heart bypass operation at what was then South Cleveland General Hospital in Middlesbrough.
At the time, the average waiting time for a heart bypass in Britain was12 months. Across the rest of Europe, it was three months.
Ian's untimely death inspired a Northern Echo campaign – led by the paper's health editor Barry Nelson –  which resulted in British waiting times being brought in line with the rest of Europe. As Tony Blair's local paper, we couldn't be ignored and the national press joined in the calls for action.
Ian's local MP Alan Milburn happened to be Health Secretary and he did what had to be done.
After telling this story to the ladies at Rudding Park, June Stevens stood up and said: "I'd like to thank Ian Weir and The Northern Echo for saving my life."
When June needed a heart bypass four years ago, the operation was carried out within three months.
She is one of countless people who are in the debt of Ian Weir.