A DARWEN dinner lady has donated money from a long service award to The Christie Hospital, 13 years after her own personal battle with cancer.

Doreen Quirke, 56, has been serving up dinners at Sudell Primary School for the past 20 years and was recently awarded £100 for her service to the pupils and staff.

Instead of spending the hard-earned money on Easter gifts for her three grandchildren, she immediately asked for the money to be sent to Christie's in Manchester.

Daughter Tracy Banks, 31, said: "My mum's worked there for 20 years and she's still there. She could've spent the money on anything but she chose Christie's because of what they did for her when she was ill.

"It just goes to show what an amazing person she is."

Doreen, who lives just yards from the school in Ellison Fold Terrace, was diagnosed with breast cancer after she discovered a lump.

She said: "It was terrifying but the lump was removed immediately and then I spent three weeks having radiotherapy in Christie's. It was one of the worst times of my life but the hospital staff were just fantastic."

Doreen had another scare four years after the treatment but X-rays revealed the cancer had not returned.

She said: "I can never repay them for what they did for me but this money could help someone like me who is currently being treated. I was one of the lucky ones who came through it and I'm so glad to be here today."

For her 50th birthday, Doreen donated £700 to the hospital.

The mother-of-three is fully supported by her family.

Tracy said: "We are all so proud of what she does. To survive cancer and then work towards helping other people with the disease is so brave."

Director of appeals at Christie's Toni Leden said: "We are really touched by Doreen's kind gesture. It is thanks to the generosity of people like Doreen that Christie's is such a centre of excellence.

"Her big-hearted donation will help fund vital research to further improve the treatment and care of our cancer patients."

The hospital has more than 2,000 fund-raisers who raised £3.3million last year and it hopes to raise even more this year.