LOVED ones of a mother-of-seven who has been diagnosed with terminal cancer are trying to raise funds to provide her with happy memories.

Jackie Rigby’s family were crushed when they were told her cervical cancer, which she had been battling with since 2014, was terminal.

The 51-year-old from Darwen was told the devastating news during remission, roughly six months before she was set to be given the all-clear in September 2018.

The grandmother-of-10 had undertaken six sessions of chemo and radiotherapy in 2014 and was then given six extra sessions following her terminal diagnosis in a bid to give her more time.

The Blackburn Rovers supporter was told the treatment was successful and would give her an extra two or three years, without this treatment Mrs Rigby would have only had months to live.

Family friend Natalie Stirling decided to set up a fundraising page in a bid to raise around £4,000 to help Mrs Rigby’s family and give her some nice memories.

Miss Stirling said: “The news was obviously devastating for Jackie and everyone who loves her.

“She has been incredibly brave and has been battling this every single day.

“I wanted to help by setting up some funds for her so she has the chance to make some final nice memories and moments with her loved ones.”

Fundraising so far has included completing a muddy obstacle course in Preston and a fun day at the Alexandra pub in Darwen.

Around £2,800 has been raised so far.

Miss Stirling, 25, said: “She’s worried about her children and what’s going to happen to them once she passes away.

“She’s a great mother to them all.

“She’s fought the illness for such a long time.

“She wants to go on a caravan holiday with her family, we are working on other things to do.”

Mrs Rigby met her footballing hero, Robbie Savage, during a special visit to East Lancashire Hospice in 2017.

She declared her love for the football pundit and admitted to having life-size cut outs of the former Wales international in her bedroom.

Mrs Rigby also got to speak to Robbie’s wife, Sarah, and pose for pictures.

The family were recently hit by more devastating news after her husband Marcus Rigby died of liver failure in February last year.

Mrs Rigby worked in chip shops and drove taxi cabs before she was diagnosed with cancer.

Miss Stirling said: “It has been my pleasure to be able to help. I just hope she has the best time, with the time she has left, to enjoy it with loved ones.

“We want to raise as much money as we can.

“I hope she can be as comfortable and stress-free as possible and the money can help her achieve this.”

To donate to Mrs Rigby’s page, visit www.gofundme.com and search ‘Jackie Rigby, Darwen’.