WHEN young mum Zoe Greenhalgh looks at her lively two-year-old son Alex, she has high hopes for his future. But she knows it will be a future without her.

At just 25, Zoe has been diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour and has less than a year to live.

But depression and regret are not for her.

Zoe has resolved to continue to "laugh at life" and to leave a remarkable legacy -- a gift which could mean life for many other people, and hope for thousands more.

The Bolton teacher, who lives in Astley Bridge, has decided to give her body to medical research, with the hope that it will eventually change other lives forever.

But with the backing of her caring family, Zoe's brave example will go even further than that.

Her winning smile will feature in a national advertising campaign by UK Transplant, who will use Zoe's inspiring story to boost the number of organ donors across the country.

She is fully aware of the impact this will have, especially on her lecturer husband, Chris, aged 31, and their son.

"When I'm gone," she explains, matter of factly, "Alex will be able to look up and see my face on the backs of buses and on posters at the side of the road, and feel proud to say 'That's my Mummy'."

Zoe's final generous gesture is no surprise to all those who know and love her.

She lives life to the full and refuses to tackle her death with anything but a positive outlook.

Only recently she joined friends and family at a giant party at the Reebok.

"I can't go to my own funeral, so we thought it would be a better idea to have a party now," she said.

It was a night to remember for the Bolton Wanderers fan. She met one of her idols, soccer manager Sam Allardyce, and was surrounded by all her friends and family.

"If I'm going to do something, I don't do it by halves," explained Zoe. "We are real party people and I wanted to tell my friends and my family how much I love them.

"And we really know how to party!"

It is not Zoe's way to say much about her suffering. She hates sympathy and only agreed to talk about her ordeal to highlight the need for more organ donors in UK Transplant Week.

Until just two years ago, she was a healthy young woman with her whole life ahead of her.

She and Chris met on a blind date. They were married in the summer of 1999 in a traditional white wedding at Walmsley Church, Egerton. Zoe, a former Canon Slade School pupil, remembers that day as if it were yesterday. She helped design all the dresses herself and, unsurprisingly, partied late into the night.

The couple's happiness seemed complete when Alex -- "the love of my life" -- was born, and she looked forward to starting a teaching job at Bolton Community College.

Fate, unfortunately, had other ideas.

Just as she started teaching key skills at the college, she began to suffer blinding headaches.

Chris became more concerned when his wife developed an aversion to light. He took her to see her GP and within hours Zoe was at the Royal Bolton Hospital with suspected viral meningitis.

She was sent to Hope Hospital in Salford for further tests and x-rays showed a shadow on her brain.

"It all happened in a day," Chris recalls. "Five days later, the tumour was removed."

Zoe added: "Being a donor was something I had always talked about. We're that kind of a family where we talk about everything.

"When I went down for surgery the first time, I made sure that I had signed all the consent forms and it wasn't a surprise to my family. But I wanted to make sure I had the donor card."

Unfortunately, the headaches continued -- despite the surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy.

Then, in April this year, doctors confirmed the worst. The cancer had returned, but this time with a cyst inside it. It was inoperable.

The couple were devastated.

"We've had such a short time together," said Chris. "We feel very much that this is unfair.

"But we do have a bit of time left to enjoy as a family. Not many people have this chance to betogether. We are lucky in that sense."

Zoe's determination to help others is also seeing Chris through some of the darker days.

"We have good days and we have bad. But I'm so proud of Zoe. When she is gone, I can take Alex out looking for mummy on the posters, and she'll be everywhere," he said.

"I will also be able to sit down when Alex is older and explain what his mummy did."

Zoe knows, too, that her time with Alex and Chris has been cut short, but said: "We have done so much together in such a short time."

Zoe's decision -- and her life -- has been described as "inspirational" by Fiona Wilkinson, the transplant co-ordinator at the Royal Bolton Hospital.

Fiona is educating doctors and nurses to approach grieving families about organ donation.

She explained: "We can make a difference to people's lives.

"Many nurses do not like to approach patients at a time of grieving, but when asked, most people are happy to give consent. Some even ask us a few weeks later, when it is too late."

Zoe's approach to this is as straightforward as you would expect.

"If you are reading this article, then turn to your partner and to your kids and your mum and dad and tell them that you want to become a donor," she said.

"Most people know whether their nearest and dearest want to be buried or cremated. People generally know their last wishes, but no one asks if they want to donate or not.

"I see it as something positive that I can do to help others. I may be able to make four people see again, for example.

"Using my body for research may help people in years to come."

Zoe's parents, John and Jacky Corlett, who also live in Bolton, are very proud of their daughter.

"She has always been remarkable and has always believed in organ donation," explained Mrs Corlett. "She laughs at life and is very strong. We have always been close and we are absolutely devastated. You don't expect your children to go before you.

"But she has never missed an opportunity in life to help other people."

There is consolation for Zoe in that doctors have ruled out any risk of Alex inheriting the rare cancer.

"Alex is the best thing in the world," said Zoe. "I have my two boys, Alex and Chris, and I am so proud of them both. I am so proud of all my family."

As to her own gift of life, Zoe's philosophy is simple.

"It will be nice to know that someone, somewhere has been able to get some help.

"Organ donation is not gruesome or horrible. It is easy. There is nothing to be afraid of, and I'm not going to be afraid. Just knowing that I can help someone will make these final days better."