TWO courageous Vale women have put fund-raising before their own personal battles with disease and disability.

Lizzie Taylor-Smith, from Bredon Crescent, Hampton, was diagnosed with breast cancer in June last year.

Despite continued treatment the mother-of-two decided to enter Evesham's Race for Life on Sunday, June 19. But the energy-zapping drugs left the 42-year-old unable to collect sponsorship - so Lizzie's friend decided to secretly fund-raise on her behalf.

Joanne Attwood, also from Hampton, raised £550 and presented her friend with the surprise cheque last Saturday.

Joanne's generous gesture is more remarkable because she is currently fund-raising for her own replacement prosthetic leg, costing £5,000. Her limb was amputated during childhood after she was born with a deformed leg.

The 25-year-old said: "Lizzie had been so unwell and didn't want to get sponsorship and I wanted to give her a boost.

"She was quite shocked when I presented the cheque to her and she started crying. She had done a charity head shave in September last year and some of the money had gone missing, so hopefully this cheered her up."

Lizzie said: "Joanne is so selfless because she has been fund-raising for me when she needs to raise her own money for a new leg. I was really gutted and upset when I discovered the money from before had gone missing - I was looking forward to handing over a cheque to the ward that had treated me.

"I'm looking forward to Race for Life, but I never thought I would be doing it for myself.

"It's a great event because it makes everyone more aware of cancer and the need to continue research into the disease."