Family raises funds for ovarian cancer charity

Susan Gilchrist, of Crown Flatt Way, Dewsbury, was diagnosed with the illness last March and wants to make more women aware of the disease.

She also held a fundraiser with the help of her family at Hanging Heaton Working Men’s Club.

The event raised £2,835.89 in aid of Targeting Ovarian Cancer through Cancer Research.

Susan’s daughter, Caroline, said: “It was fantastic. Everyone had a brilliant night and walked away with some amazing prizes from our raffle. I am totally gobsmacked how we can raise that kind of money.”

Ovarian cancer is dubbed “the silent killer” because it exhibits no symptoms in its early stages, proving fatal in two-thirds of cases.

Common symptoms include persistent bloating, abdominal or pelvic pain and difficulty in eating.

Caroline said the family are determined to follow in the footsteps of the breast cancer lobby to make more women aware of the disease.

“It is a horrible disease that doesn’t just affect the patient but family and friends as well,” she said.

“We hope we have made more people aware of what to look for.”

Donations can be made via www.justgiving.com/carolineraisingawareness.