A woman who is in remission from aggressive skin cancer is fundraising for the charity which helped her in her time of need.

Aileen Pawley understands only too well the importance of Macmillan Cancer Support, after fighting the disease herself and losing both her dad and her aunt to cancer this year.

The forty-year-old, from Guiseley, wants to give something back to the charity she describes as wonderful by holding an event at the Clothiers in Yeadon on September 6.

She said: "I was diagnosed with aggressive squamous cell skin cancer three years ago on my scalp which spread to my neck and my lymph glands. I had two tumours removed from my head and one from my neck including my neck muscle and sixty lymph gland nodes followed by 7 weeks of radiotherapy to my head and neck. I am now three years into remission and hope that in another two years I will get the all clear. I am extremely fortunate and try and live life in a positive way since my experience."

She added: " Macmillan helped me after I had separated and was struggling to pay for petrol etc for my regular hospital visits everyday for seven weeks for my radiotherapy. They gave me an allowance of £320 and this made a huge difference at a time when I was really struggling. The Macmillan nurses also helped look after my dad before he passed away in April."

She said: "I felt it was important to give something back to this wonderful charity and so last year and again this year we are holding an event which consists of a cake stall, a large tombola and a raffle. We are very lucky to get the prizes from all of the local businesses around Yeadon, Ilkley and Otley mainly. Without their generosity this event could not take place."

Aileen is organising the event with her friends Karen Coburn and Joanne Holmes. Her mum, Janice Waite, who is also a Macmillan fundraiser, will be there on the night to help them out.

Aileen said: "Last year we raised £1380 and Santander who employs me doubled this. My colleague Mark Hayes helped me achieve this."

She is being supported again by the bank this year and she said she had been inspired by the fundraising carried out by her mum and by the other women in the Macmillan Otley group.

The event at The Clothiers (Wetherspoons) will take place from 4.30 pm until 9 pm.

Aileen said: "This is our second year of doing this and with the help of all the amazing local businesses and not forgetting our family and friends we hope to make this a big success again. Everyone is so supportive. It's incredible.

"I am truly grateful to have another chance and also to my two friends Joanne Holmes and Karen Coburn. They are simply amazing."