FRIENDS and family of a cancer sufferer who lost her battle against the disease are planning to lobby the government to make a "wonder" drug more widely available.

Michelle Hilton died in September following a six and a half year battle against breast cancer. The 37-year-old mother-of-two had been fighting to be treated with the drug Herceptin, which could potentially have enhanced her life.

Although prescribed the drug by cancer specialists at the Christie Hospital, Michelle was initially refused funding by the East Lancashire Health Authority and was preparing to pay for the treatment herself -- at around £1,000 a week.

But -- backed by the Lancashire Evening Telegraph -- Michelle, who lived in Beechwood Drive, Blackburn, successfully campaigned to have the drug paid for by the hospital but she died before she actually took the drug.

Herceptin targets an over-active gene -- HER2 -- associated with cancer growth in one in five women. Tests showed Michelle was in this 20 per cent.

Research has proved it slows the growth and spread of tumours and an American study found that patients given the drug in addition to chemotherapy had a 10 per cent better chance of survival. Husband Barrie and friend Tracy Reed have gathered more than 5,000 signatures on a petition which they plan to present to Blackburn MP Jack Straw in the hope that he will pass it on to health secretary Alan Milburn. Tracy, of Feniscowles, said: "If Michelle had got the drug in time, she might be here today and perhaps enjoyed a few more months with her young children."

Barrie has organised a charity night in Michelle's memory. Local band the Burn -- fresh from supporting superstars Oasis -- have agreed to play at the Oak Tree pub, in Livesey Branch Road, on Saturday.

Barrie is hoping the £10 a ticket event -- which will also include a raffle and a charity auction -- will realise in the region of £5,000 in aid of the Breakthrough Breast Cancer group, a charity committed to fighting breast cancer through awareness.

Tickets are available from the pub on 01254 202277 or from Barrie on 01254 202883.