The family of a woman fighting cancer for the second time has launched a cash crusade to send her on a 5,000 mile trip for treatment.

Pamela Aston, 46, of Upper Church Street, Spennymoor, was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 1998 and after a mastectomy and intense therapy was confident she had beaten the disease.

Last October the mum-of-one was given the devastating news that she has secondary cancer of the liver, which doctors in the UK have told her is incurable.

Pamela, known as Pam Ellis, and her family have launched a campaign to raise £20,000 for Issels treatment at the Oasis of Hope Hospital, in Tijuana, Mexico.

Issels therapy uses alternative medicine alongside conventional treatment and the hospital claims to improve life expectancy of patients by up to 45 years.

Pamela, a leisure attendant at Spennymoor Leisure Centre, said: "I don't want to give in to it, I just want a chance to see my two year-old granddaughter Rochelle grow up.

"When my niece, Rebecca Armstrong, and daughter Michelle, read about Issels treatment in The Northern Echo it gave me something to aim for.

"It would have been easy to mope around and give in to the cancer after I was told it is incurable but no we're all determined to raise the money.

"Everyone has already got behind us, we've already raised £3,000 so I'm confident I'll get to Mexico and have a go at beating this."

A series of events have been organised including a sponsored abseil, raffles, book sales, and disco and pie and pea supper at Spennymoor Leisure Centre on Sunday night.

Supporters are also taking part in the Great North Walk, in Weardale, on July 13 and raising funds through sponsorship.

For tickets for Sunday's event, or to help in any other way, call Michelle on 07941896009. An account has been set up at Barclay's bank in the town for the Pam Aston Flight for Life Campaign, which is open for public scrutiny.