A WOMAN who battled back from life-saving surgery for a brain tumour is raising cash as a thank-you to the staff who treated her.

Lindsay Walton, 23, of Rudyard Drive, Darwen, underwent surgery at the neurological unit of the Royal Preston Hospital to remove a large vascular brain tumour.

Doctors had to make a cut from the bottom of her neck to halfway up her head and she had to have 20 clips to seal the cut afterwards.

But despite the worry for Lindsay and her family, she was recently given the all-clear by doctors and now has a normal life ahead of her.

She said: "This recent experience has had a huge impact on my life and made me acutely aware of the amazing work performed by the staff at the unit.

"I have a huge debt of gratitude to repay the staff for their awe-inspiring work and am consequently organising a charity event that will include a raffle and disco, with live performances from local artists.

"It was an awful time for everyone and we were all so relieved when the operation was a success."

In January this year, Lindsay started getting pains in her neck, suffered headaches, was feeling sick and tired but at first doctors thought she may have an ear infection.

Five months later, she was diagnosed with a brain tumour and within a couple of days she was taken to Queen's Park Hospital, Blackburn.

After undergoing scans of her head, she was told the tumour had grown and she was sent to the Royal Preston Hospital.

She said: "I was in shock at first and I didn't really understand how bad it was.

"They said afterwards that if it had carried on growing it could have been fatal.

"I had to have three months off work to recover and when I went back to Preston a month ago they said everything was fine and it was not cancerous which was great news. There's no stopping me now!"

The charity event, which has also been co-ordinated by Lindsay's mum and dad, Beverley and Peter, will take place on October 29 at the Highfield Club, Darwen, from 7.30pm, and will help buy equipment for the hospital.

Tickets have almost sold out and Lindsay is hoping to have raised around £1,550 from ticket sales alone.

Entertainment will be provided by Jamie Mac and Trevor, as well as The Two Hats.

Blackburn Rovers have donated a signed football for the raffle and the Sunnyhurst Pub, Darwen, has also raised £1,000 towards Lindsay's fund.