A BASINGSTOKE woman battling cancer has vowed to raise money for a charity which helps others with the same illness.

Liz Gray is preparing for an operation on April 21 to remove the right lobe of her liver, where there are visible growths.

But despite the challenges faced by the mother-of-two, from Pyotts Hill in Old Basing, she is still dedicating her spare time to raising money for charity.

Mrs Gray has previously featured in The Gazette for her battle with pancreatic cancer.

The 67-year-old was diagnosed with the deadly illness in June 2009, when she was told she would die within three months-to-a-year. The survival rate for the illness is extremely low.

Yet two-and-a-half-years later, the 67-year-old retired IT teacher, has defied all the odds after doctors discovered her cancer was actually a very rare form which could be treated.

Since then, she has organised various fundraising events for Pancreatic Cancer UK, the latest being a fundraising walk around Old Basing in March, which raised £1,000.

The money will help the charity improve the diagnosis for others with pancreatic cancer.

Mrs Gray said: “I am well aware that for most of those who are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, the outlook is bleak.”

She is now hoping the operation will remove all the cancer from her liver, but she added: “There is a chance there may be some minute growths which can’t be seen that may manifest themselves later. That’s a risk I have to accept.”

Despite her illness, Mrs Gray continues to organise fundraising events and is planning her next one on May 12 when she will hold a coffee morning at the Beddington Centre in Rileys Lane, Old Basing, between 11am and 1pm.

Visitors will be able to buy coffee, tea, biscuits and raffle tickets, as well as browse bring and buy stalls.