A SINGER is on the march to beat breast cancer after she was diagnosed with the disease.

Pat Greensmith, who performs in clubs across the North-East as Chyrelle Addams, discovered a lump while on holiday in May, becoming one of more than 25,000 women a year to be affected by the cancer.

She is undergoing chemotherapy and has set up a fund to raise money to buy equipment for hospitals in the region to treat the disease.

The 45-year-old, from Armstrong Drive, Willington, County Durham, has already raised hundreds of pounds with bucket collections at concerts, and has now organised a sponsored walk.

The eight-mile trek will start from the Spectrum Leisure Centre, in Willington, to Bishop Auckland viaduct and back again.

Despite her illness, Mrs Greensmith aims to do as much of the walk as she can, and will be joined by dozens of family and friends, including neighbour Kay Wigham.

Ms Greensmith said: "I will give it my best shot. I have to be careful because of the treatment, but it would not be fair of me to ask others to do it and not have a go myself.

"The response from the community has been amazing. There are men, women, children and dogs doing it, and I am so grateful."

She hopes The Chyrelle Addams Breast Cancer Appeal Fund will raise £65,000 for mammogram machines and other equipment to help diagnose and treat the disease.

Other events are also being planned in Willington and clubs and pubs throughout the region.

To sponsor the walkers or to take part, call Kay Wigham on 01388-748605.