A BRAVE woman who is battling cancer for a third time has been given a special honour by the Queen.

Hilary Craft, aged 55, of Whitefield, has been given a British Empire Medal in Her Majesty’s New Year’s Honours for creating two charities that have raised nearly £500,000 for cancer-fighting research and equipment – while combating cancer herself.

The mum of one, who is currently battling breast and lung cancer, said she was deeply humbled by the news and that it would spur on a quest to reach her ultimate goal.

“My overriding aim is to help cure cancer for good. I want us to get to a position where it no longer kills people, so it can become a chronic, treatable condition like diabetes is,” she added, speaking to The Guide while on holiday in Thailand.

Hilary is the director of a finance company called Regency Factors, which is based in Jubilee Way, Bury.

Read more about Hilary's achievements in The Bury Times and The Prestwich and Whitefield Guide out on Thursday January 3.