My final few weeks will not be wasted says mother told she is dying of cancer

Dianne Freeth is no ordinary woman. Four months ago, her life was turned upside down when, a year after being diagnosed with lung cancer, she was told it was terminal.

Many would struggle to cope with the news, let it consume them or destroy them.

But Dianne says she's living with cancer, not dying with cancer, and hasn't looked back since. "My way of coping is that I'm upfront," says the 56-year-old, from Coven.

"Everybody hides away and thinks it's a really really bad thing, but it's not. I've got cancer, I've got no hair and I'm dying – that's the best way to be with people because you should talk about it. I know I'm going to die so I'm living life to the full."

To that end, Dianne has filled her final months with challenges and events to celebrate her life and give something back.

And in an act of defiance, she will be taking on a 250-mile bike ride in September, despite doctors telling her she will only survive until August. The former PE teacher, who was told she had six months to live in February, will ride from Cardiff Castle to Caernarfon Castle. "I'm going to prove them wrong," Dianne said. "There's more to life than just sitting here or going out with my friends. It's about giving something back. To have a challenge every month gives me something to live for."

Dianne's diagnosis is the latest cruel twist in her life and comes five years after her husband Andy died of lung cancer. They had married in 1987. She said losing him and having to be strong for her son Stuart, 23, had helped her cope with her illness.

Born in Cumbria, Dianne moved to the West Midlands aged 18. After graduating from West Midlands Teacher Training College in 1978, she went on to became a PE teacher. She taught at TP Riley School, which is now Walsall Academy, until 1989 and then moved to Castle Business & Enterprise College in Leamore.

She has never smoked in her life and has always been fit and active – doing netball and volleyball to high standards as a youngster and becoming British Colleges champion in the 400m in 1977 – so being diagnosed with lung cancer was a shock but, with the help of a life-changing, week-long support excursion called Odyssey, Dianne has an exclusively positive outlook.

She said: "I can't say what I did at Odyssey, as people aren't supposed to know until they get there. But now, the cancer is nothing. It's nothing compared to what I did there in that week.

"I have my tearful days, of course I do. I won't see my son get married. That's the bit that makes me cry – I won't see him get married, I won't see my grandchildren. That's the regret I have out of everything.

"But I look back at my life, and I had a wonderful husband, a lovely son and a good house. I've had a good life."

Since her diagnosis, Dianne hasn't stopped making plans. In fact she has a wall-planner of events and things to do.

She's building – literally – a legacy for Stuart by adding a second home in her back garden; she is going to organise her own funeral; and she's even planned a 'life' party – a celebration which all her family and friends will attend.

"If I'm in my coffin when they come to my funeral, I won't see them," she said. "I want to be there, I want to celebrate."

Dianne wants as much help as possible in her fundraising exploits. She is raising cash for Odyssey, and for Compton Hospice, where she plans to spend her final days.

She knows the next few months will be tough, but she will face everything head-on. "Why cry? Why sit and think about how I'm going to die?"she added.

"I could walk out and get hit by a bus today, but this way I'm organised. I'm in control."

Visit www.justgiving.com/dianne-freeth to donate to the bike ride challenge, or www.justgiving.com/dianne-freeth1 to keep up to date with her monthly fundraising challenges.