A Burnley mum, who thought she may not live long enough to see her children grow up after being told she had a rare type of cancer, has completed an 11 mile charity walk to thank medical staff who cared for her.

Nicole Dornan was among hundreds of people who took part in the Rosemere Cancer Foundation Walk in the Dark. And she was joined in the trek by her children Dylan (23) and Demi-Lei (19) plus Dylan’s partner Shannon, Demi-Lei’s boyfriend Ty, and her niece Gianna.

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Nicole, who raised £558, said: “We had the best time. It was lots of fun. The atmosphere was brilliant and the community spirit and support along the way was amazing. We really enjoyed the walk. I am very grateful to everyone who sponsored me to take part.”

Nicole (third from left) with, from left to right, Shannon, Dylan, Demi-Lei, Ty and Gianna after taking part in the Rosemere Cancer Centre Walk in the Dark

Nicole, (39), is now officially out of remission after being diagnosed with stage 3C germ cell ovarian cancer a decade ago. She has been discharged from Burnley General Hospital, where she has been going for regular follow-up appointments since undergoing treatment at Rosemere Cancer Centre, Lancashire’s and South Cumbria’s regional specialist cancer treatment and radiotherapy centre at the Royal Preston Hospital.

At Rosemere, Nicole underwent chemotherapy and two surgeries over the course of a year and also battled sepsis and pneumonia infections.

Nicole, who was so inspired by the centre’s medical staff that she is now studying nursing at the University of Lancashire with the ambition of becoming a cancer nurse specialist, said: “By the time I was diagnosed, my cancer was late stage and had spread. I had tumours not only on both of my ovaries but also on the lining of my stomach and next to my heart and lungs. It was the most frightening time of my life.

Nicole had to give up her job as a nail technician and arrange for Dylan and Demi to be looked after as the chemotherapy, which she had to have before her surgeries, made her so ill that she had to be cared for on the cancer centre’s in-patient Ribblesdale Ward.

Nicole, who is also a proud grandma to Dylan’s son baby Jaxon (one), and all members of her walking party were presented with medals on arriving in Preston, where free refreshments also awaited them and all walkers.