A woman is determined to help cancer victims after her sister and father battled with the disease.

Shelley Dutton is holding a charity event to raise funds for Bradford Royal Infirmary's Cancer Support Unit and Breast Care Unit after the illness devastated her family.

The family, including three brothers and five sisters, received a terrible blow when Sharon Franks, 42, of St Paul's Avenue, Wibsey, was diagnosed with breast cancer in September 2003.

After years of chemotherapy and breasts removal, Sharon was recovering with breast reconstruction surgery scheduled for October.

But the family were shocked when father James Simth, 69, was diagnosed with throat cancer in March 2005.

Mum-of-three Sharon, a science technician at Buttershaw High School, said: "It just came out of the blue. It brought back a lot of hard memories. It's been very hard for my dad. He is a proud man. But it's brought us all closer.

"I have tried to be positive. I feel as though I have been chosen as a special person to see if I will fight for my life.

"You think your whole life is mapped out and then something like this knocks you off course."

Sharon is now waiting for the all-clear and celebrates her new lease of life by renewing her wedding vows on Thurs-day, September 8, at St Paul's Church.

Shop assistant Shelley, 40, of Westbury Road, Horton Bank Top, has been committed to raising funds for cancer victims. She will put on the fundraiser at Clayton Golf Club, Thornton View Road, on Friday, July 29, at 8pm. Tickets, which cost £5, are available on (01274) 402116 or at the golf club. People can also pay on the door.