FROM LEFT: Claire Lambert with her family, Katie, nine, Tilly, three, husband Darren and Jessica, 11

A MUM who was diagnosed with cervical cancer two years ago has organised a fundraising walk to raise awareness of the disease.

And Claire Lambert, of Fox Lane, Oakley, is also urging women to attend appointments for smear tests, which can detect abnormalities (pre-cancer) at an early stage.

The mum-of-three said: "I ignored several letters saying I'd had an abnormal smear and left it about a year. It was just through a combination of being busy and kind of thinking I'll be alright'.

"I finally went for another smear, which came back abnormal, and then went up to the hospital. The next thing, I was being told I'd got a tumour."

She added: "To be sat there and told you've got cervical cancer is horrible - you just don't expect it.

"I just want people to be aware of how important smear tests are. I was one of those who thought it can't be me'."

After being diagnosed on November 14, 2005, Mrs Lambert had the tumour removed at Basingstoke hospital.

She said: "Luckily, my tumour was small, only 2mm, and hadn't spread, so the doctors were able to remove it."

In March 2006, Mrs Lambert was also offered the option of having a hysterectomy, which would reduce the chances of the cancer returning.

She said: "I had three children and we knew we weren't going to have any more. Knowing that I could reduce the worry of having to go through it all again, I just decided to go for it."

Mrs Lambert, who lives with her husband Darren and daughters Jessica, 11, Katie, nine, and Tilly, three, has to have six-monthly check-ups for the next five years.

The 34-year-old has organised a three-kilometre walk in Oakley as part of a national event on April 27, to raise funds for Jo's Trust - a charity which provides information and support for women with cervical cancer.

She said: "I used the charity's website and it was brilliant. I was able to talk to other sufferers and read the stories of other people who had gone through what I was going through. I also had some questions I wanted to ask and professionals would get straight back to me with the answers."

The fun walk will take place in Beech Park, Oakley, at noon. Participants are asked to make a donation to enter the event and collect sponsorship money.

Donations of £1 or £2 a person, £5 for a group of four and £10 for groups of five or more are being requested and children 12 and under go free.

To sign up to take part in the walk, visit www.jotrust.co.uk or call Mrs Lambert on 01256 781921. Sponsorship forms are also available from Mrs Lambert.

10:44am Saturday 5th April 2008

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