AN INSPIRATIONAL woman from Ringwood who has been told she has just months to live has launched a fund raising campaign to help save lives.

Melodie Lomax was diagnosed with peritoneal cancer in November 2014 and has been receiving treatment at the Royal Marsden Hospital in London.

Despite the diagnosis, Melodie is relentless in her determination to raise vital funds for the Royal Marsden Gynaecological Cancer Research Fund whilst raising awareness of the rarer female cancers.

"I am a fighter," said Melodie, who is undergoing her second round of chemotherapy.

"Gynaecological cancers belong to the group of female diseases with the lowest survival rates in the UK. Some 57 per cent of women fail to have their cancer diagnosed at a stage early enough to offer the chance for survival of five years or more.

"Known as the Silent Killer, we mostly pass off the symptoms as minor women's problems, but the signs are there, tests are there and we owe it to our daughters, sisters and mothers to act on the warning signs by increasing our own awareness of these life threatening diseases.

"Until recently all women with gynaecological cancers were treated with a one size fits all approach, but now specialists can identify molecular abnormalities and provide a personalised treatment with greater chance of success. However, funding into this is woefully lacking so I have chosen in association with leading consultant medical oncologist Dr Susana Banerjee, to raise funds for her ground breaking research."

Friends Nick Mckay, Kevin Fry and Sam Stone are cycling 300 miles from London to Paris for the research fund.

Nick said: "Melodie and I are friends and this project is close to my heart. Melodie has support from her female friends but this is something we can do as men to support her.

"Any donation that you can make will be greatly appreciated by us, we can assure you that we will earn every penny you donate. We think it will be a case of sweat and tears, hopefully no blood to achieve our goal."

If anyone would like to sponsor Nick go to justgiving.com/Nick-Sam-Kevin

A Ladies Coffee Morning is being held on Tuesday April 19 at the Alice Lisle pub in Rockford from 11am.

Tickets are available at £5 from The Ringwood Gateway, William Guy Hairdressing or the Alice Lisle pub or email sarahjmorgan@gmail.com.

A charity walk is being held on Saturday May 14 at 8am from the Alice Lisle pub to the Royal Oak at Fritham. Registration is £15 and includes complimentary bacon butties and supper on return.

A charity auction is being held that night on May 14 at the Alice Lisle at 6.30pm. Impressive donations already include a Hot Air Balloon trip, a Cessna flight, sailing in a 33ft Bavaria plus a designer watch.

For register for the walk and/or the auction email Chris Kennedy at cjklakeside@aol.com or ring him on 07866 604923

To donate go to justgiving.com/melodie-lomax