A WOMAN from Bratton who was diagnosed with thyroid cancer along with her mum and six other members of her family is hosting a charity night to raise money for cancer research.

Becky Penhaligon, 23, of Lower Road, has arranged to host a charity night with an auction and live music at The Duke on Saturday from 7pm.

Miss Penhaligon’s mum, Lynne Penhaligon, 54, was the first of her family to be diagnosed with thyroid cancer in 2011 when she found a lump in her throat, and underwent two operations to remove it.

Both Miss Penhaligon and her 19-year-old brother Michael had tests to check for the hereditary cancer gene, and although her brother’s results came back clear, Miss Penhaligon was a carrier.

As a precaution, she had a lymph node removed, which doctors later comfirmed had a tiny cancer tumour of 3.4mm wide.

Miss Penhaligon had a second operation when doctors thought the cancer had spread to her chest, and although it was false alarm, she has to have regular checks since discovering she carries the gene.

Since then, Miss Penhaligon’s grandad, uncle, auntie, cousin and both of her nans have been diagnosed with cancer.

Miss Penhaligon said: “We really just wanted to raise awareness with our charity night. Cancer seems to have struck my family in every way it possibly could over the last seven years.

“It has been extremely tough, and you can’t help but think who will be next, but we are a very close family. I am especially close to my mum.

“I really couldn’t speak highly enough of my mum, she does everything for everyone.

“My dad is disabled after being in a car accident and suffers from depression. Mum is his full-time carer and she does so much for him and all of us.

“We try and give back to her for all she has done but it’s not enough. She has a big heart that we love so much.”