THE daughters of an Okehampton woman with terminal cancer say they have been ‘overwhelmed’ by contributions towards making their mum’s last Christmas special.

Heather Kelly, 52, who is well-known and loved in the town, has been told by doctors that there is nothing more they can do for her.

Heather’s daughters Jessica Mitchell and Katie and Sarah Neville launched an appeal for £500 on crowdfunding website gofundme.com, and have been staggered to be given more than £1,200 from Heather’s many friends and wellwishers. They will use the money to make Christmas extra-special for their mum, with any left over going towards paying for their mum’s funeral.

Jessica, who lives in Tavistock, is hosting an early Christmas Day for her mum on or around December 12. Heather’s three children and five grandchildren will be there.

Jessica said: ‘Mum was born in Okehampton and has lived there her entire life. She is a well-loved and respected member of the community. We just want her to enjoy her last Christmas and make it the best possible for her.’

Her sister Katie, who lives in Okehampton. said: ‘We are completely overwhelmed by the response we’ve got. I knew mum was popular but I never knew just how many friends she has.’

Heather, who has had to leave her job as a cleaner at Wetherspoon’s pub The White Hart in Okehampton, enjoyed a special dinner with her work colleagues over the past week. Unable to work, she is now being supported by her partner Chris Ball.

She was diagnosed with cancer after returning from holiday in September last year.

Daughter Katie said: ‘Mum had gone on a girls’ holiday with her friends to Portugal and on the way home on the plane she was felt really bloated.

‘She’s always had problems with her stomach, so didn’t think everything of it, but she went to the doctor. A CT scan showed she had a large tumour around her ovaries.’

When chemotherapy didn’t shrink the tumour, Heather had surgery to remove it and a second round of chemotherapy.

‘That appeared to be working, because they told us in July it was shrinking but now they’ve said that the cancer has come back,’ said Katie. ‘The consultant says he hopes she makes it to Christmas so we are playing her life out week by week at the moment, seeing how she gets on.’

She said that the experience of the past 14 months had been ‘absolutely heartbreaking from start to finish’ but they were now determined to make Christmas special for their mum

‘That is what mum wants, she doesn’t want to do anything, she just wants to make memories with her family and friends.

‘We thought we would bring our Christmas forward so we are getting close family together for Christmas dinner around December 12, then hopefully we will have another day together on Christmas Day.’