A YOUNG mother-of-three who was diagnosed with cancer last year is joining forces with her family to raise money for charity.

Michelle Loverance, 30, discovered a lump in her breast when she returned to work as a theatre staff nurse in October following the birth of her daughter, Kate.

She underwent a mastectomy in November and has just finished chemotherapy.

Despite having three children under six to care for, and radiotherapy sessions to attend, Mrs Loverance has signed up for the Cancer Research UK Race for Life, which is supported by The Northern Echo.

She will walk the 5km course around South Park, Darlington, on Sunday, July 13, while her mother, Christine Rose, and her mother-in-law, Mary, try to run the distance.

Her sisters, Caroline and Claire, are also taking part in races near their homes in Winchester and Cardiff.

Mrs Rose said: "She discovered the lump after finishing breast-feeding and returning to work which, on investigation, was found to be malignant.

"It came as a big shock to us all as you do not expect to have breast cancer at 30 and with three small children.

"Michelle is coping as well as she can with her husband, Stephen, and we are all helping out.

"It was her idea to enter the Race for Life. None of us have done it before, but I am training to try and run some, if not all of it. It is a really important thing for us all to do it."

To enter the Race for Life, call (08705) 134314, or log on to www.raceforlife.org