A FATHER-OF-TWO whose wife died after a brave battle against cancer has spoken of her zest for life and how her illness robbed their daughters of a loving mum.

Helen Williams died aged 33 after contracting pneumonia, but she had been diagnosed with breast cancer two years previously.

Her husband John now faces the challenge of raising their daughters, Chloe, aged six and eight-year-old Isabel, on his own.

But the 34-year-old teacher, of Castlecroft Avenue, Blackrod, remains optimistic about the future and has been inspired by Helen's remarkable inner strength to make the most of life.

Helen, who was brought up in Bromley Cross, and John met as teenagers when they were in the sixth form at Canon Slade and their romance blossomed over the following years.

They married 11 years ago after John had finished his teacher training and enjoyed a happy and secure marriage, with each of them dedicated to their daughters.

Helen found out she had breast cancer in August, 1998 after noticing that the shape of her left breast had started to change.

She had been experiencing slight neck pains since Easter, but had never dreamt she could be seriously ill.

Doctors explained to Helen and John that it would have been unlikely for her to have detected a lump as breast cancer can be difficult to diagnose in young women.

The cancer had already spread to other parts of Helen's body and she underwent six gruelling sessions of chemotherapy at Christie Hospital.

But despite her exhaustion, Helen remained determined to enjoy life and took a part-time job on Chorley Market which she loved.

John, who teaches at Woodside Special School, said: "It was a joke in the family about Helen working on a fish stall, but she loved the atmosphere of the market and enjoyed meeting so many different people."

She underwent a mastectomy operation early in 1999, but made an impressive recovery and started to receive X-ray therapy on her spine in a bid to destroy cancerous cells which were now attached to her bones.

John said: "The radiation sickness made her very ill, but she still kept happy and told everyone she met that she was fine.

"Our children knew their mummy was ill, but they had no idea how serious the illness was."

Helen was devastated when she had to give up her market job because she was so tired, but remained busy at home and enjoyed her independence.

She and the family enjoyed a half-term break in France in October this year, but on the return journey home Helen stumbled and broke her hip.

John's parents rushed to Ashford in Kent and collected the children and Helen spent a week in hospital where she had a replacement hip operation.

But once again she made an amazing recovery, cheerfully claiming she felt fine and was happy to get back home again.

However, just weeks later she began to feel breathless and extremely tired and her GP recommended a check-up at the Royal Bolton Hospital.

Helen had pneumonia and John was warned doctors could do nothing for her.

He said: "It was a terrible shock because even though we knew her life would be shorter because of the cancer, we never thought she would die so suddenly.

"Fortunately, family, friends and Helen's parents had chance to say their goodbyes at the hospital. Helen drifted in and out of sleep, but when she heard the children's voices she woke up and was laughing and joking and very cheerful.

"They said their goodbyes and as soon as they had gone, she drifted into sleep again.

"I knew it would be a quick end when Helen came to and tore all the breathing masks off her face and told me she had had enough."

Helen died on November 29, just a few days after Isabel's eighth birthday.

John added: "Throughout the illness Helen was a tower of strength and proved how much you can get out of life."

"I feel numb now -- as though I've lost a limb. Chloe and Isabel understand what has happened and they are being very good.

"I took them to their school disco last night and one of their little friends asked me if I missed Helen which made me smile because children are so direct and honest.

"I would like people to remember Helen in a positive way.

"She left something with everyone she came into contact with, was totally giving and a great mum."