A YOUNG mum of two from Trowbridge has lost her battle against cancer. Julie Dunford, 34, died at her Yeoman Way home on Saturday, a year after she was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma.

Mrs Dunford's father, Pete Lamb, said: "Julie was fun, loving and full of life. She loved her children and all of her family."

His daughter had been told that her cancer was terminal on December 1 and had endured five intensive radiotherapy sessions in order that she could spend her last Christmas with her children, Isabelle, nine, and eight-year-old Thomas.

Mrs Dunford's younger sister, Caroline Brailey, 32, of Devizes, said: "After six treatments of chemotherapy we thought she was going to be alright and Julie hoped she would be in remission by Christmas.

"She was looking forward to a future in her new home with her children. She was very brave in fighting this disease but the cancer took over.

"When we found out that the cancer was terminal, it was devastating news. Julie wanted to get through Christmas for her children's sake.

"We spent Christmas at Julie's house and tried to make it as normal as possible for her children."

Mrs Dunford had undergone chemotherapy treatment at the Royal United Hospital, Bath, at the same time as Melksham mother Sarah Clark, who died of Hodgkin's disease on December 21, aged 26.

Mrs Dunford's mother, Ann Lamb, said: "It seems so sad that they both lost a similar battle at the same time."

Mrs Dunford was brought up in Potterne and went to the village primary school followed by Devizes School.

After leaving education she worked for Wiltshire County Council's finance department where she helped schools to balance their budgets.

Her illness has inspired her family to raise money to help other cancer sufferers and her sister ran the 5km Race for Life in Swindon last year, raising more that £200 for Cancer Research.

She said: "Julie was proud of me for running in it last year and she said she was going to run it this year. I will take part in it again this year in memory of Julie."

Mr Lamb started work with friends last year to compile a CD to raise money for the Leukaemia Research Fund (Hodgkin's, Lymphoma, Myeloma), which will now be produced in his daughter's memory.

He said: "By making a CD we hope to raise money for research to help other people and increase awareness of this type of cancer, which is becoming more prevalent."

The children will now live with their father, Charles, who was separated from their mother, in Trowbridge.

The funeral service is at Semington Crematorium on Tuesday at 2.30pm.

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