A LANCASTER woman who survived breast cancer is putting her best foot forward to encourage others to help raise cash to research the disease.

Linda Jackson did not know she was ill until her husband forced her to go to the doctors.

And on Sunday she will be saying thanks to medical staff by helping out as a volunteer at the Williamson Park All Walk Together' event to raise cash for breast cancer research The 50-year-old grandmother was diagnosed with breast cancer when she was just 39.

She only went to the doctor's after her husband Terry persuaded to when she found a lump and she had to have the lump and the lymph nodes under her arms removed.

She also faced more than three weeks of radiotherapy at the Christie Hospital in Manchester.

Linda, who worked as a nurse before she retired, is now keen to encourage other women to take immediate action if they find a lump.

"Women mustn't dilly-dally. If they find a lump, then they need to see a doctor immediately and get the best possible medical advice," she says.

"I'm thrilled to be able to help Cancer Research UK by helping out at Williamson Park. It will be such a special day."

The All Walk Together will be dedicated to inspirational Sophie Benson, also of the city, who died from breast cancer in January of this year.

Sophie's widower Phil, her step-daughter Jenny Leedal and five-year-old son William will be guests of honour at the 6k walk.

They and dozens of Sophie's friends and former work colleagues will take part to celebrate her life and raise vitally needed funds for research into breast cancer.

Organiser Anne Sweeney says: "Women like Linda Jackson are an example of the advances which have been made in breast cancer research but not everyone is as lucky. We will all be thinking about Sophie as well as the other women who bravely fight cancer every day in Lancaster."

All Walk Together will help raise funds for vital research into breast cancer for Cancer Research UK. To register, just turn up on Sunday when the cost will be £10 for adults and £5 for children.

Or, for more det-ails, call the fund-raising office on 0161-772-5555.