PENNY Lewis was 34 when diagnosed with breast cancer and did not know anyone of her age who had the disease.

She was helped through the first traumatic months by the friendship of fellow sufferer Denise Tattersall-Derbyshire, of Aldwych Place, Brownhill, just 30 when they met.

Denise died in February but Penny will carry her spirit and support when she walks the fundraising Race for Life in Blackburn next week in her memory.

The pair met at a breast cancer support group in Beardwood in April last year. Denise had been through the disease two years before.

They became friends and discovered they had much in common. They lived near each other, were of similar age and had young sons.

Penny said: "When I was first diagnosed, I didn't know anybody the same sort of age as me with breast cancer. They were all 60 plus, but when I met Denise, it was a huge relief. It was so nice to be with someone who knew what it was like.

"It went badly for both of us, and we got secondaries but it was helpful to know someone who was going through the same thing.

"She lived quite close to me and we kept in contac all the time. Sadly, she died.

Since her diagnosis, Penny, who has a seven-year-old son Bradley, has taken part in fundraising for breast cancer charities, and her two local pubs, the Brownhill Arms and the Hole i'th'Wall, have raised more than £1,000 between them with her urging.

Penny, of Whalley New Road, Blackburn, will walk the Race for Life around Witton Park next Wednesday , with Denise's cousins Pauline and Jane. More than 2,000 women will take part to raise £90,000 for Cancer Research UK.