WHEN Pat Brown lost her daughter Carolyn to breast cancer earlier this year, her grieving family rallied together to offer each other the support they needed.

And it is this special bond which has led the Browns to be given the title of Family of the Year.

To win the Woman's Weekly/Co-operative competition, Pat, from Regent Road in Blackpool, wrote a touching story about her supportive family.

Carolyn, who worked at Argos, was diagnosed with cancer in 1995 and died in January, at the age of 32, with three tumours on the brain and one on her spine.

Pat said: "I wanted to tell the story of my daughter's family so I wrote about my son-in-law David Lee and my grandchildren Christopher, six, and Michael, nine.

"When Carolyn died, the family found it very hard to talk about her, but I wanted her children to remember her and feel proud of their mummy.

"I often look after the children and talk to them about Carolyn. They know that when they see a bright star that's their mummy.

"Carolyn went into Trinity Hospice, but last Christmas she wanted to come out to be with everyone and watch her children open their presents.

"I have three other children, Samantha, 14, Craig ,24, and Gary, 30, who all spent Christmas with us - even though it was very hard and very emotional.

"My family have always been close. I used to see Carolyn every day and winning the award is a tribute to us all."

The award ceremony was held at the Four Seasons Hotel in London by Vanessa Feltz.

Pat said: "The day was marvellous. There were six other finalists and we were very proud to win.

"The prize was a holiday in Holland and a £500 shopping voucher.

"I'm only allowed to take six people on the holiday, but I want the whole family to go so I'm hoping to buy extra tickets so we can all spend a deserved holiday together."

Pat's story is due to appear in the Woman's Weekly magazine at Christmas.

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