Appeal raises �1,000 in memory of Alconbury grandmother

FRIENDS and family of a much-loved and �cheerful grandmother who died after a battle with cancer have raised more than �1,000 for charity in her memory.

FRIENDS and family of a much-loved and �cheerful grandmother who died after a battle with cancer have raised more than �1,000 for charity in her memory.

Hazel Dorks, of �Willow End, Alconbury, died in March, aged 63. She had spine cancer which spread to her shoulders and hips.

The mother-of-three and grandmother-of-four had already fought breast �cancer 13 years ago, but the �second bout of cancer proved too fierce.

At her funeral, friends and family paid tribute to the “always smiling” Mrs Dorks by making �donations to the Woodlands Cancer Treatment Centre, at Hincingbrooke Hospital, in Huntingdon, where she received support.

Donations were also received from Homebase in Huntingdon, where Mrs Dorks had worked until 2007, and DHL in �Godmanchester, where a relative is employed.

Her sister Valerie Hatcher, 47, of Ramsey, said the �family had been touched by the amount of money raised.

She said: “The staff at the Woodlands looked after Hazel really well and it was such a great tribute to her to raise this money.

“Hazel fought breast cancer and was given the all-clear, but three years ago she got a backache and the doctors told her it was spine cancer.

“She was so brave and fought so hard.”

Mrs Dorks, who was married to Peter for more than 30 years, loved sewing and county music and was a former member of the Boots and Buckles dance group.

Mrs Hatcher said: “She was always smiling and cheerful despite what she was going through. She will be greatly missed.”