A MUCH-LOVED mother and amateur sportswoman has died after a brave battle with a degenerative disease.

Maxine Michaela, originally of St John’s in Worcester, contracted an aggressive strain of ALS, which affected her muscles, only 15 months ago.

She died in hospital on Sunday, August 8, after slipping into a coma in her adoptive home of Tenerife.

Family and friends had led a tireless campaign of fund-raising to pay for adaptions to Ms Michaela’s island home, in a bid to maintain her independence.

She herself had campaigned to boost awareness about the condition and put up a stoic fight as the disease gradually caused loss of movement throughout her body. Ms Michaela had been in Tenerife 12 years, more recently teaching English.

She was a former pupil of what was Samuel Southall Secondary School.

Natalie Ward, her cousin, had been helping drive a fund-raising campaign with Maxine’s sister Nicki, who still lives in St John’s.

Ms Ward said: “She slipped into a coma the previous day and died on August 8.

“We’ve got the memorial service and a celebration of her life on Saturday now.”

The onset of ALS (amytrophic lateral sclerosis) was particularly cruel for Ms Michaela who had been an active sportswoman having played women’s rugby, netball and rounders in the city and Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire.

At a service in Tijoco in Tenerife earlier this month, her mother, sister and niece paid tribute to “brave” and “beautiful” Maxine.

A city memorial service celebrating Ms Michaela’s life is being held at St John in Bedwardine Church at 3pm on Saturday, followed by refreshments at Sketchley’s Club in Lower Wick.

She leaves a daughter Jessie and partner Fran.