THE parents of an inspirational Pendle woman who died aged 30 after a seven-year battle with breast cancer have raised more than £35,000 in her name.

Ruth and Chris Leach have been raising money for Pendleside Hospice since their courageous daughter, Sarah, died in 2008.

Sarah, of Wheatley Lane, Fence, was a school secretary at Walton Lane Children’s Centre, Nelson.

She was nominated for the Prima Woman of Courage Awards in support of Breakthrough Breast Cancer, during her battle in 2006 and even walked the Great Wall of China with best friend, Karen Dziek, nine months before she died. To keep her memory alive her parents have been organising charity balls.

Ruth, 67, of Barnoldswick Road, Higherford, said: “Sarah was a very courageous person who let nothing phase her.

“She battled the illness all the way to the end and was always thinking about others.

“The charity balls would have been right up Sarah’s street. She would have loved the glamour of it all.”

Sarah, who discovered a lump in her breast while taking a shower in April, 2002, was treated by a Macmillian nurse at home but wanted her family and friends to get involved with the hospice to help local people in a similar situation to herself.

This year’s ball had a Pink Ladies theme and was attended by 140 people.

The event raised £6,500, pushing her parents’ fund-raising total to £35,000.

After Sarah was diagnosed she trialled a new type of chemotherapy, but the treatment did not work.

After a second course of chemotherapy, she had reconstructive surgery on one breast and reductive surgery on the other.

Despite losing her hair and feeling exhausted from chemotherapy, Sarah continued to go clubbing and competed in horse shows until the illness took control.

Lisa Riding, Pendleside Hospice fundraiser, said: “The fourth Pink Ladies Challenge ball was a fitting tribute to Sarah. We thank Ruth and Chris for there ongoing support.”