BRAVELY fighting the side-effects of chemotherapy and with great difficulty speaking, a mother's tears speak volumes about the pride she feels for her children.

Having beaten three brain tumours and now fighting a fourth, Helen Wrangham's family decided it was time to show her how special she is to them.

And news that the family, of Yarm Road, Darlington, had successfully entered her in an Asda WonderMum competition triggered tears of joy.

Husband, Mark, 36, said: "She was very emotional. She is so proud of all four children and is touched by what they have done."

Mrs Wrangham's youngest daughter, Carly, wrote the letter to Asda, saying: "I'd like to nominate my mum because, despite the fact she has had four brain tumours and is now going though chemotherapy, she still manages to keep her head and have fun with us.

"She has always got a smile on her face even when she is poorly or not feeling well."

The letter was signed from all four children - Carly, 13, Marc, 16, Natalie, 17, and Symon, 19.

Mrs Wrangham's fourth tumour is inoperable and she is on a second course of chemotherapy to shrink it and keep the cancer at bay.

"It takes everything out of her and because of where the tumour is she has great difficulty in speaking, which frustrates her," said her husband.

Tragically, Mrs Wrangham, who worked in Iceland on Yarm Road for many years, lost her younger brother, Gary Irwin, to the same illness in August 1999.

He had survived for ten years with a brain tumour.

Mrs Wrangham will receive £50 of Asda vouchers and be entered into the WonderMum Awards regional final.