Linda makes a splash with cancer campaign

The 50-year-old former hairdresser from Ilkley was attending the Cancer Research Campaign shop in The Grove, Ilkley, to sell pink ribbons at £1 each in aid of the charity.

It is just one of a number of projects supported by her since she appeared in the Telegraph & Argus in July.

Her appeal was started when Linda, a member of a gym at the Baildon Marriott Hollins Hill Hotel and Country Club, told fitness instructor Francine Hogg she would not have the confidence to continue swimming once she had lost her hair due to chemotherapy.

In a gesture of support Francine, 40, agreed to have her head shaved and take a dip with the interior designer.

Linda - who discovered a lump in April three months after getting the all-clear from a mammography - has so far raised £2,800 with her appeal.

Today she was also preparing for a 24-hour triathlon as part of her campaign against the disease.

Her efforts inspired more than 100 volunteers to join her for tomorrow's sponsored event at Baildon's Marriott Hollins Hill Hotel and Country Club.

The challenge will be done in relay by people doing stints of between five minutes and two hours - with Linda herself planning to swim, cycle and use the treadmill for 30 minutes.

Francine, who lives in Baildon, said staff and other club members had been moved to help by Linda's efforts, adding: "She's always very positive and an inspiration to us all.

"The head shave inspired a lot of people and a number of the volunteers have been affected in some way or other by cancer, either suffering from it themselves or having relatives who've had it.''

Mother-of-two Linda, whose events are to mark Breast Cancer Awareness Month, said: "People have been incredibly supportive and it's just overwhelming that so many are prepared to do something like this.''

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