She was known throughout Helston for her never-failing smile that masked a personal battle with health, but now a fundraising mum has lost her three-year fight against cancer.

Debbie Adlard refused to let a terminal cancer diagnosis get in the way of supporting causes close to her heart and only last week presented £2,500 to three cancer charities, following a fundraising event earlier this month.

Until only recently she had continued to work at Helston Tesco, as well as a physiotherapist assistant at Helston Community Hospital, as she refused to let the disease get in the way of her living life to the full.

On Saturday evening, however, just over three years after first finding a lump in her breast, Debbie's fight came to an end as she passed away in a hospice, aged 50.

Her husband Jim paid tribute to his wife this morning, describing her as a "a fighter" and adding: "She would never give up her smile and love for other people."

One of her sons, Daniel, 27, paid his own tribute, saying: "My mum is my best friend, the most precious lady in the world. I'm proud to be her son but even prouder to call her mum. She made me into the man I am today.

"I miss you mum, losing you is the hardest thing ever but now you are at peace. Thank you for being the best mum and role model anyone could ask for. RIP Mummy Princess xxxx"

Debbie was also mum to son Chris. 

And on behalf of Debbie's side of the family, her mum, sister and brother said: "There are no words that could express how we are feeling right now, but what we do know is that our lives will never be the same again. 


"Our beautiful, brave Debs fell asleep surrounded by her family, in a room full of love. A much loved wife, mother, daughter, sister, sister-in-law and aunty, Debs will be remembered, loved and missed every single day, but as a family we are also so, so proud of Debs and how she battled her way through the storms with dignity and courage. She really was an inspiration for many."

Even up to the start of this month Debbie was thinking of others, raising £2,552.43 for the Sunrise Centre, Headland Unit and the Cove Centre, all based on the site of the Royal Cornwall Hospital.

She raised the money at an 80s-themed party night at the Godolphin Club at the start of this month, which was supported by businesses across Helston and the surrounding area with auction and raffle prizes, plus a disco from DJ in Cornwall.

It was in spring of 2014 that Debbie first discovered a lump in her breast, thus beginning a long journey of primary breast cancer then a secondary cancer diagnosis, chemotherapy and subsequent chemical burn from it, radiotherapy and numerous scans and infections.

Despite this, she focussed on the good times she had experienced and the people she has met, saying only recently: "Both of my jobs and the colleagues I work with have been so lovely and accommodating, family have been there behind me and pushed me on when at times I'd given up, especially the love of my life Jimmy and my boys.”