JUSTINE Hargreaves has one big hope for Christmas this year– that it will be as special as possible for her five children.

Single mum Justine is determined to enjoy every single moment as she watches the youngsters unwrap their presents.

And she has even had personalised messages made by Father Christmas for the children telling them how good they have been during the year.

This Christmas is so important to 37-year-old Justine because it could be her last.

Earlier this year she was diagnosed with terminal cancer and was told by doctors she may have less than six months to live after the disease spread to her bones.

Ever since the heartbreaking diagnosis Justine, of Chester Street, Accrington, has been working to secure her children’s future.

Her death will leave her children orphans as their dad Stuart committed suicide three years ago.

Justine said: “It’s been an awful year and we’ll all be glad to see the back of it.

“Everything is organised, but all the presents have had to come off the internet because I can’t walk very well these days.

“I keep thinking of extra little bits to get them to make it special, and for the first time I’ve got the kids an individualised video message from Father Christmas telling them that they have all been really good and he is very proud of them.

“The children do know what is going to happen and they are really good coping with it day-to-day.”

She added: “All of the family are coming round to our house on Christmas Eve before all the presents get opened the next day.

“We’re just trying to keep things as normal as possible, but after my treatment my taste for sweet things has completely gone, and I’m gutted I have two boxes of Roses chocolates I won’t be able to enjoy. I really love those, but they taste awful now. So it’ll be savory all the way this year with cheese and biscuits.”

Friends and family started the Help Justine campaign in August after her diagnosis in order to build up trust funds for each of the five children – teenage daughter Jade, Sam, nine, Nathaniel eight and five-year-old twins Coral and Crystal.

The aim is to raise £150,000, and so far £15,000 has been collected through a series of fundraising nights across East Lancashire and generous donations from the community.

Justine said: “It’s amazing to have raised so much, but the events have really been more about getting people together and making memories. The money is a bonus.”

Justine’s mum Eileen Hargreaves said: “It’s overwhelming because when you start something like this, you don’t expect people to care, but it’s amazing how many do.

“We’ve had money from spiritualist churches all over the country and from friends of friends in countries like Australia and South Africa.”

Justine has now finished her last course of radiotherapy and tests show that her tumours have slightly decreased, but the prognosis has not changed.

A Facebook campaign has almost 2,000 members and website www.helpjustine.com has been set up for donations.

For more information on fundraisers or information about how to donate, email appeal@helpjustine.com.