THE best friend of a young mum who died of cervical cancer is determined to ensure her legacy lives on by raising awareness of the devastating illness.

Kearsley Academy teacher Sarah Johnson is staging a fundraising event on February 13 next year, exactly a year to the day when her best friend Natalie Poole organised a glamorous ball to raise awareness of the cancer and money to support charities helping people with the illness.

Miss Poole, a mother of one, who used to live in Stoneclough died at the age of just 33, a year after eventually being diagnosed with the cancer, which if picked up early enough is more likely to be cured.

Following the devastating diagnosis, she campaigned to raise awareness of the condition and to listen to what people’s “bodies were telling them” and raised £17,000 for The Christie and Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust.

The evening of entertainment will feature lives music with Gaz Grundy perform a song written about Miss Poole, who worked at estate agents in Entwistle Green in Westhoughton, dances, and a set by a leading pole fitness champion.

Mrs Johnson, who is the enrichment co-ordinator at Kearsley Academy, said: “I want to carry on Natalie’s work, to do something in her memory. When she was diagnosed with the illness she starting organising a ball to raise awareness of the condition and to raise money.

“I want to carry on her work about raising awareness of the cervical cancer, and on the evening a song about Natalie will be performed, when I heard it I cried. I miss her so much, when she was ill we used to talk everyday.”

The evening will feature live music, entertainment, disco and raffle and auctions.

Mrs Johnson said: “The evening in February is in her memory to raise money for St Anne’s Hospice, who were so good with Natalie where she died and to raise awareness of cervical cancer.

“Hospices depend on donations and they do such a good job supporting families and those who are ill. My mum is a nurse there and my grandma and I have had family members looked after there.”

At Natalie’s funeral she was buried with a bag of her belongings because she wanted to look “glamour” in heaven, and with a pair of Jimmy Choo shoes on top her white coffin.

Tickets for the evening at Pendle Social Club £10 and are available from the club, Bubble and Bite Car Wash and Cafe in Lineyshore Mill. Business who would like to support the event by donating raffle and auction should email sarahlouisedawson@hotmail.com