TRIBUTES have been paid to an inspirational York mum, who lost her fight against cancer just weeks after her 50th birthday.

Hundreds of people turned out for the funeral this week for Annette Harrison after she died in September.

Her sister Kim Lambert said: “We have such a tiny family, but there were a lot of people at the service, more than 200, and not enough room for them all. It was really heartwarming to see this sea of people and really helped Zoe and me, because we didn’t realise she was as loved as she was by all those people.”

She said that Annette, who was from Acomb, had not been scared of doing anything. “If she could give it a go, and try to fix something, she would. Her favourite saying was ‘just do it’.”

Annette became pregnant shortly after being treated for Non-Hodgkin lymphoma at the age of 29, and Kim said she defied doctors’ health concerns by carrying her daughter Zoe, now 20, to full term.

“She was very determined and prepared to die rather than terminate the pregnancy, so Zoe was born. The doctors said she was a chemo baby and a miracle, and there was an extra special bond because of that.”

Zoe cared for her mother at home in her final weeks, following treatment for cancer in her lungs and brain.

She said: “Mum always told me she couldn’t wait until the day she saw me walk down the aisle and have her grandchildren. That’s not going to happen now, which is devastating, but when I marry and have my own children, I will tell them all about her and how wonderful she was.

“She will forever hold a place in so many people’s hearts. She was loved straight away by everybody she met. I hope to be at least half the person she was - courageous, loving, supporting, and she smiled every day.

“She would tell me every day how thankful she was, how much she loved me and how she is so proud.

“I’m the one who is proud. She was a fighter and stubborn

right until the very end. I will love her forever and always.”

Kim said Annette’s cancer treatment left her bones so brittle that “we couldn’t cuddle her when we went to visit, because it could break something”, but “she still put her make up on, even without the use of her left arm, as she still wanted to take care of herself and wanted to try to keep looking like she used to.”

Kim said: “There are many words in the dictionary that describe my sister: beautiful, vivacious, brave, inspirational, courageous, fearless and funny. The world will simply not be the same without her positive mental attitude and beautiful soul.”

Annette worked in the editorial department of The Press for 14 years. Stuart Martel, deputy editor, who worked with her, said: “Annette is and always will be fondly remembered by everyone at The Press as a kind, funny, confident and friendly person, who enjoyed life and loved her family.

“It was a pleasure for us all to have known her, and she is sorely missed. Our thoughts are with Zoe, Annette’s partner Darral, and all her family and friends at this difficult time.”