THE family of a Whitchurch mum who discovered she had breast cancer after going to hospital with suspected gall stones, are set to take part in a Race for Life in her memory this weekend.

Deborah Bowness, 50, died on Thursday, August 26, after a living with the disease for 15 months.

Her younger sister Vicky paid tribute to Deborah’s courage and said her family would be joining Race for Life at Telford Town Park on Sunday in her honour to raise funds for Cancer Research UK.

“Deborah was the best big sister, mum and aunt we could have wished for,” said Vicky, from Whitchurch.

“She was so strong and courageous; even when she was really sick, she was thinking of others.

“I was especially shocked to see how much Cancer Research UK had been affected during Covid so we will be racing on Sunday with Deborah’s name on our backs.

"I would encourage anyone who can to join in.”

Vicky will be running with her three children Sophie, Evie and Seth alongside their 16-year-old cousin and Deborah’s daughter Ella.

Deborah’s breast cancer diagnosis on June 1, 2020, came as a huge shock to the family who had been expecting hospital test results to come back positive for gall stones.

“She’d been having pain in her liver so she was referred to hospital for suspected gall stones,” said Vicky.

“Myself, my mum and my younger sister have all had them so we were joking that it was her turn.

“She had several scans and found out she actually had advanced breast cancer that had spread to her liver and lungs.

"My mum called me to give me the news and I fell to the ground in shock. To hear that she wasn’t going to get better was gut wrenching.”

Deborah continued working during six months of chemotherapy treatment but, by autumn last year, the cancer had spread to her spine.

She underwent a further six sessions between February and May 2021 during which time, Deborah’s dad was diagnosed with skin cancer.

“Dad had a malignant mole on his back 20 years ago and, while Deborah was going through chemotherapy, he found out the melanoma had come back,” said Vicky.

“They were having treatment at the same time which was tough.”

In April, Vicky’s children raised £1,600 for Cancer Research UK by doing 5k a day.

“Deborah was so proud of them,” said Vicky. “They told her they were doing it because they wanted to find a way to ‘make this horrible disease not exist anymore'.

“Even in the last stages of her illness she was thinking of others.

“She was buying little gifts for people and even organised little surprises for her husband’s 50th a few days after she died.

“I wouldn’t wish the pain we’re going through as a family right now on anyone but we will do anything we can to support others so that they don’t have to go through the same agony."

Money raised through the event series funds world-class research to help beat 200 types of cancer – including breast cancer, bowel cancer, prostate cancer, lung cancer, testicular cancer, brain cancer, children’s cancers and leukaemia.

Paula Young, Cancer Research UK’s spokesperson for Shropshire, said: “We are immensely grateful to Vicky and her family for their support at such a difficult time."