A BRAVE girl from Clitheroe has raised almost £30,000 in memory of her mum.

Bethany Rose, 10, launched Candle4Katy with help from family and friends, after her mum, Katy, lost a five-year battle against breast cancer.

Brookside Primary School pupil Bethany reached her original target of £5,000 for Breast Cancer Care within weeks of starting fundraising and has collected more than £22,000 online.

Her mum would have celebrated her 40th birthday this week, so Bethany is saying thank you to everybody who has helped them raise the cash.

She said: “We hope the money will help other families who are suffering with breast cancer.”

Bethany’s dad Andy, head of modern languages at Queen Elizabeth Grammar School in West Park Road, Blackburn, said Bethany had been an inspiration during the fundraising.

He said: “It has been an interesting year for us, trying to make the most of a very difficult situation.

“It has just been about taking stock and we thought it was a good time to channel our energies to something positive.”

He said Melt Candles at Backridge Farm near Waddington encouraged to start raising money, by donating £12 from the sale of a range of candles to the fund.

Bethany, of Highmoor Park in Clitheroe, has also organised events, including a pink day her school and a Sparkle Ball in her mum’s home town of Norwich.

Andy, 51, said: “It has been difficult for Bethany to cope but she is very excited every time we get a message or some money and she thrives on the social side of it all.

“Bethany has been fantastic and kept me going – she is very much a sparkling girl and the apple of her daddy’s eye.”

To donate to Candle4Katy, visit www.justgiving.com/Andy-Rose