Allison Coates is one of life's true battlers. Diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 26, she was determined not to let it beat her and vowed to fight the disease which threatened her life.

And after undergoing 12 months of treatment, her courage and determination paid off when doctors confirmed her cancer seemed to be cured.

Despite her ordeal, Allison decided to use her experience in a positive way. Firstly she got together with Bradford's Cancer Support Centre to set up a support group for young women affected by breast cancer.

And, not content with just that, she threw herself into fund raising for Marie Curie Cancer Care's appeal to build a £5.2 million cancer care centre for the city of Bradford.

Allison's courage and generosity have now earned her a nomination for the T&A's prestigious Bradford's Best Citizen Award.

Allison, who works for the Abbey National, said: "When I started fundraising three years ago, what struck me is that people in Bradford have to travel to the nearest cancer centre in Ilkley and it just doesn't seem right that Bradford didn't have one.

"When I heard about the appeal to raise money for a Bradford centre, I started holding events, such as balls, party nights and sponsored walks and donated all the proceeds to the charity."

Over the years, Allison has raised thousands of pounds for the appeal. And her fund-raising is helped by the fact that anything she raises is doubled by her employers, the Abbey National.

Now her tireless work has led to her being nominated for the award by Marie Curie Cancer Care fundraiser Brian Curran.

Allison said: "I was pleased and proud when I heard I'd been nominated but I don't think I'm any more deserving than any other volunteers who help at the charity."

Mr Curran said that Allison's work is an "inspiration".

"Allison is a great example to us all of someone who has battled to beat cancer and not only that, has decided that she wants to put something back into helping other people," he said.

"Her infectious enthusiasm and hard work is a great inspiration to everyone."

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