DOROTHY Burton was just 47 years old when she died of breast cancer.

On the day that would have been her and her husband Alex's 30th wedding anniversary, the Leyland mother-of-three was cremated at St Leonard's, Walton-le-Dale, the church where the couple married.

Now three years on her daughter, Caroline Marsden, is putting on her running shoes for this year's Race for Life in memory of her mother.

Caroline, 30, of Lowther Crescent, Leyland, will also be aiming to complete the charity race in honour of her father who, she says, gave up everything to care for his wife until the end.

"I want people like him to be recognised for their compassion," said Caroline.

After finding a lump in her breast Caroline said her mother was told not to panic.

It wasn't until Dorothy fell and damaged her neck while on holiday in Cyprus that she realised something was terribly wrong.

Back in the UK surgeons operated on her broken neck bones and discovered cancerous tumours in her spine. "I will never forget seeing her break down and tell us," said Caroline, who has two children of her own.

Alex, 54, of Cheetham Meadow, nursed his wife through her through her illness until the end.

"He gave up his business to take care of mum," said Caroline. "They spent so much time together. My parents were so in love. No matter how she felt, she loved shopping and my dad would take her to Preston every Saturday to buy shoes.

"Towards the end we had to move her bed downstairs. The sad thing was that her bones were so brittle so she couldn't be picked up.

"My dad gave up his life for my mum. He is a fighter and he has had to battle on. I'll be wearing a photo of them both on Sunday."