The friend of a woman who died after an "incredible fight" against breast cancer has spoken of an "extroverted, bubbly character who loved live."
Jane Dabner from Bebington died in December aged 58 of secondary breast cancer, after initially successfully fighting the disease only for it to return years later.
Jane had worked as a "tireless campaigner" for breast cancer awareness and as a volunteer with Maggie's Centre at Clatterbridge Hospital, a support centre for those with cancer and their loved ones.
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Before her death, Jane, who has raised thousands for the charity through various fundraising events, spoke to the ECHO about the bucket list she was ticking of after being diagnosed with terminal secondary breast cancer.
The mum of two's list included having a truck ride to the seaside and being "arrested" on Judge Rinder.
Jane died in December 2020 after putting up an "incredible fight" with friends unable to pay tribute or attend her funeral due to covid restrictions, leaving behind two beloved daughters and grandchild.
Last week, on what would have been Jane's 59th birthday, her friends and former colleagues came together at the recently opened new centre at Clatterbridge Hospital for an event organised by Jane's sister Ann Davies, and close friends Julie and Hazel to celebrate the life of Jane, who was dedicated to raising cancer awareness even while herself battling the disease.
Her friend Julie Scott told the ECHO: "Jane was a fabulous, she was so full of life, she loved life.
"She was a real extrovert and a bubbly character, she would light up the room.
"Her one aim when diagnosed with secondary cancer was to make a difference and she did a huge amount of things for charity, raising a lot of money.
"We both worked as volunteers for the Maggie's Centre at Clatterbridge and Jane and I always did vintage tea parties.
"We decided, for her 59th birthday, and to commemorate Breast Cancer Awareness Month we would do something a little different.
"It was called Bubbles and Sparkles and it was a celebration of Jane's life.
"We had a Neil Diamond tribute, champagne cocktails and raised in excess of £3000 for Maggie's Cancer Centre.
"The centre is a drop in, it's a charity funded purely by donations and grants and provides free emotional, practical and psychological support for anyone affected by any cancer.
"The one at Clatterbridge opened in 2014 and there's been over 60,000 people gone through its doors since, which just shows how needed that support has been.
"We've just had a fabulous new centre built, funded by the Steve Morgan Foundation and the celebration of Jane's life was the first big do we've had there since the new centre opened."
Julie said she was keen for her friend's memorial to also be a chance to raise more awareness about breast cancer, something that was so important to Jane.
She said: "Breast Cancer Awareness month is just so important because early detection means that it can be caught and treated at a treatable stage.
"It's also very important for the younger generation, it makes a difference and that is what Jane wanted to do."
Julie said she first met her friend at the centre 7 years ago just as she was coming to the end of her own cancer journey.
She said: "We both had cancer together and she was a very entrepreneurial lady, a larger than life character.
"When I met her she had just finished her treatment was setting up a wig library. Shed realised that because you're not usually feeling in great form when you pick a wig you can end up not getting the right one so she set up a library so people could try different ones and that's how I met her taking my own wigs in.
"She was always onto the next fundraising opportunity and she was just so funny and so loud.
"She was known for her bright red lipstick, she had a huge sile and she was so kind.
"We miss her so much, it was too soon for her to die, Jane just loved life."
More information about Maggie's Centre including how to donate is available on the centre's website.
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