The memory of an inspirational young Cumbrian woman will be honoured by a series of charity fundraisers.

For more than five years, Carly Winder, 26, battled courageously against cancer, going through pioneering surgery and somehow finding the energy to raise funds herself for a cancer charity.

The 26-year-old, from Plumbland, near Aspatria, died last month at Carlisle’s Eden Valley Hospice. 

Now her family are planning to repay the kindness she and they have been shown by staging a series of fundraising events.

They will include:

  • Carly’s sister and nieces competing in the Eden Valley Hospice Colour Run on May 8 at Carlisle Race Course
  • A Race Night in memory of Carly at The Sun Inn, Aspatria, on June 25. All proceeds will go to the Eden Valley Hospice
  • A charity boxing match on July 9 at Zebra Claims Stadium, Workington. Again, proceeds go to the Eden Valley Hospice.

Over the last five-and-a-half years, as she lived with cancer, Carly became an inspiration to those who knew her.

Somehow, she managed to remain positive, courageous, and caring.

A secretary at a Workington law firm, she was so popular that her funeral service at St Cuthbert’s Church in Plumbland, near Aspatria, was crammed with mourners.

That came as no surprise to Carly’s family – including her dad David, 52, and mum Gillian, 55, who paid tribute to Carly.

“She was very strong,” said Gillian, from Plumbland.

“Carly was so determined, never complained, and she was always smiling.”

David said: “We are a very close family.

“Carly lived to fundraise to help others. She was always thinking of new ideas to help a vast range of charities.

“The Eden Valley Hospice provided such amazing care for Carly during her stay.”

Carly was just 20 years old when doctors diagnosed a swelling on her left arm as Ewings Sarcoma.

“She coped marvellously, really,” said Gillian.

In 2011, Carly had pioneering surgery at Newcastle’s Royal Victoria Infirmary, with a surgeon removing a bone from her leg and using it to replace the diseased bone in her arm. Sadly, her cancer reappeared at the start of 2013.

Despite having eight bouts of chemotherapy, Carly got on with her life, continuing to enjoy her secretarial job with the law firm KJ Commons and Co in Workington.

She even found time to support the Teenage Cancer Trust, teaming up with another cancer patient in October 2014 to officially open The Great Cumbrian Run and raise funds for the charity.

She had spent time at the Trust’s Unit at the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle. Carly became ill again just before Christmas last year and, after three weeks at The Cumberland Infirmary, she was transferred to Eden Valley Hospice in Carlisle.

Gillian added: “The quality of the care was absolutely superb.”

While she was at the hospice, Carly spent quality time with her family, including sister Janine, 29, and brother Jordan, 22, as well as the two nieces whom she adored – Mica, ten, and six-year-old Eva.

Louise Miles, regional fundraising manager at Teenage Cancer Trust, said: “Carly was a truly inspirational person who always had a smile to give others.

“She was a very popular member of the trust’s fundraising board in Cumbria and I know I speak for all of the committee when I say she has taught us all so much.

“Our thoughts are with all her family and friends.”