THE FAMILY of a young woman who died from cancer today thanked those who have donated money to the The Christie Hospital in her memory.

Dawn Quirk's sister Tracy Banks, 32, said they will continue to raise money after opening a memorial fund.

As well as the £1,532 raised through donations for the oncology unit at Christie's, Tracy's brother Craig also ran in the Manchester 10km race to raise another £700. And Tracy, her mother and friends will also be running in the cancer research-led Race for Life at Witton Park on June 23.

Dawn died aged 24 after a nine-month battle against cancer. She was taken to Manchester Royal Hospital after finding a lump in her leg in June of last year.

She was diagnosed as having cancer and underwent surgery in November. But after Christmas Dawn suffered a second blood clot and a scan revealed the cancer had spread through her body. She was admitted to the Paediatric Oncology Unit at The Christie Hospital on February 20 this year but chemotherapy proved unsuccessful.

Dawn was planning to marry sweetheart Warren Chadwick, 27, when she recovered.

Tracy said: "We never expected we would get so much money. We are very touched at the response from people. I think my sister would be very proud of everyone who donated money and proud especially of my brother. He took part in the Manchester 10kilometre race wearing a special shirt with her name on and the date she was born and died. It made us proud."