A charity ball is to be held in memory of a mum of two who has died from an aggressive form of cancer.

Joanne Cawthorne, of Bingley, who lost her battle with the disease in January aged 34, was first diagnosed with breast cancer shortly after the birth of her daughter Nicole in 2005.

After receiving intensive treatment she went into remission, but four days after the birth of her son, Henry, in 2009 she was told the cancer had returned and spread to her liver, brain and spine.

Her husband Nick, 38, and sister-in-law Gemma Beetham have organised a ‘bling and bow tie’ ball at the Hilton Hotel in Bradford on Friday, July 1 – which would have been the couple’s third wedding anniversary.

Proceeds from the event, which includes a three-course meal, auction and raffle, will go to Ward 15 at Bradford Royal Infirmary, where Mrs Cawthorne received treatment, and breast cancer support group Bosom Friends.

Mr Cawthorne said his wife, who grew up in Shipley and attended Nab Wood School, had decided to become a counsellor after she recovered from the disease.

She graduated last year with a degree in psychology and counselling from Bradford University.

“She wanted to give something back. After what she had gone through the first time around, she wanted to be a counsellor,” Mr Cawthorne said.

“She was a hard worker and a good mother to both our children.

“The ball is a good way of raising money for the people who looked after her. The treatment she got was second to none. The oncologist said he would do anything possible to prolong her life.

“They expected her to live three weeks and she lived 18 months, so they did something right. She wanted to see her children grow up as much as she could, that’s what kept her going.”

Tickets for the ball cost £35. For details, call Mr Cawthorne on 07413 527169 or Gemma Beetham on 07703 336884.

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