A former Saskatchewan radio personality who was an inspirational figure in the fight against breast cancer has lost her decade-long battle with the disease.

Lisa Rendall passed away Wednesday. Over the past 10 years, she raised more than $2.5 million for breast cancer research, including over $400,000 through the Lisa Rendall Golf Classic.

Rendall was recently named the CTV Saskatoon Citizen of the Year for 2010. She also received past recognition for her fundraising efforts, including the 2006 YWCA Woman of Distinction Award.

She started her own website, www.lisarendall.com, to promote her fundraising efforts and share resources for people dealing with breast cancer.

Rendall was born in Outlook, Saskatchewan, in 1965, and grew up in Loreburn. After graduating from a radio broadcasting course, Rendall moved to Regina and worked for seven years at CKIT FM. There, she met and married her husband, and together they moved to Saskatoon in the fall of 1990.

She spent two years on the air at CJWW before accepting a job in Toronto. But four years later, Rendall came back to the prairies and hosted the morning show on C95 in Saskatoon, called "Rob, Lisa, and Rambling Dave."

When Rendall was only 35 years old, she was diagnosed with widespread incurable breast cancer. Doctors found the disease after it had eaten away at a vertebra in her neck, causing it to collapse.

Rendall completed six months of chemotherapy, and her cancer has remained in stable condition since early 2000. She credited the antibody Herceptin with her long-term health, and firmly believed she was living proof that scientific research works.

The remarkable strength and courage that Rendall displayed after her diagnosis won her many fans. Rather than retreating into her treatment, she insisted that her radio listeners be informed of her illness and the treatments she underwent.

She encouraged announcers at C95 to simply tell the truth about her situation, and shared her story with a positive attitude and a sense of humour.

Rendall is credited with putting a face to breast cancer in Saskatchewan and making it possible for people to talk openly about their diagnoses.

Honouring Lisa Rendall CTV Saskatoon Citizen of the Year