BRAVE cancer sufferer Gemma Feeney has lost her fight for life.

The courageous 29-year-old - who inspired hundreds of local people and celebrities to raise money for her fighting fund - died on Tuesday at her home in Deane. Her devastated mum, Stephanie, said: "Gemma was such a fighter, so determined, she never gave up.

"I can't believe how quickly she deteriorated, but she was talking right up until the end.

"She was determined to help as many people as possible. There were people from all over the country contacting her via her website and she was just really pleased that she could help other people."

Gemma was first diagnosed with a brain tumour in 2002 after she started to suffer from painful headaches.

She underwent seven-and-a-half hours of surgery, six weeks of radiotherapy and four weeks of chemotherapy and thought she had beaten her illness.

Sadly, in May 2004, she developed severe back pain, and rare tumours were discovered on her spine.

Gemma continued with her treatment and even travelled to Mexico in a desperate bid to find a cure, refusing to give up hope, even when doctors told her in January that the illness was terminal.

She launched a fund-raising campaign which captured the hearts and imaginations of people across Bolton. Hundreds of events were held and local comedians Peter Kay and Paddy McGuinness donated money to her fund.

She was hoping to travel to Italy for pioneering cyberknife surgery to remove the tumours.

But on March 18 her condition deteriorated and her mother Stephanie, who Gemma described as her "rock", took her for a check-up at the Royal Bolton Hospital.

It was while she was at the hospital that she had a fit, and continued to have them until her death on Tuesday.

Her family rallied around and made sure she had round-the-clock care. Her aunts, Geraldine, Viv and Dorothy, spent night-times at her bedside so her mum could have a rest.

On Monday, she visited the Christie Hospital in Manchester for an appointment with her consultant and for some low level radiotherapy to help ease her pain. It was then that she was given the devastating news that her tumours were quickly spreading.

Her father, Tom, said: "She never moaned or complained once and she never lost her sense of humour, even right at the end. I have never known anyone as brave as her."

By Tuesday morning, Gemma's mother noticed her breathing had become more laboured and called the family to her bedside.

It was just after her 84-year-old grandmother, Gwen Pope, arrived that Gemma passed away at around 3pm.

Her aunt, Dorothy Pope, said: "Gemma was concerned about other people even just before she passed away. She kept telling us she wasn't in any pain.

"She was so determined and strong and would always thank people for helping her."

Gemma's funeral will be held at St Mary's Church in Junction Road, Deane, at 11.30am on Wednesday, April 4, followed by cremation at Overdale Crematorium at 1pm.

An online book of condolence has been set up on HERE with the blessing of her family.