A CANCER victim's daughters were today attending their mother's graduation ceremony.

Joyce Swindlehurst, 50, lost her fight for life days after learning she had got a degree.

Her place at the ceremony at Preston's Guild Hall was to be taken by her 28-year-old daughter, Janice.

She will collect the honours degree certificate which Joyce worked for while battling against the killer disease.

Janice was being watched by her three sisters, Carol, 30, Tracey, 23, and Kelly, 19, and their mother's friend, Eileen O'Neil, who studied for a degree at the same time.

Their father, Raymond, 51, of Parker Street, Rishton, is still trying to come to terms with his wife's death and was too upset to attend the ceremony.

Raymond, a Norweb meter operator, said: "I think the work kept her going through her illness. She wouldn't give up and was determined to get her degree. I am proud of her." His wife, an auxiliary nurse, was diagnosed with cancer two and a half years ago and lost her fight for life at East Lancashire Hospice, Blackburn, in October.

After many years of hard study the grandmother of eight achieved a 2:2 honours degree in history with health studies as her additional subject.

She and next door neighbour, Eileen, 55, started working part-time towards their degrees at college more than a decade ago.

But during the last two years they undertook the final stages of their study at the University of Central Lancashire.

Eileen said her friend had helped inspire her to achieve a 2:2 in history and sociology.

She explained: "She pulled me through my degree. I would have pulled out if it wasn't for her."

Eileen, who was due to receive her certificate today, added that a special award was also to be made after the ceremony to commemorate Joyce's life.

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