Jo's friends in colourful funeral plan

Friends of a Staffordshire woman who has died after an eight-year battle against cancer are to wear her favourite colours of pink and blue at her funeral.

Jo Wall died last Saturday, aged 46. The mother-of-two, of St Michael's Road, Penkridge, who was diagnosed with cancer five times, was guest of honour at a charity fundraising walk at Shugborough, last October.

She started the more than 170 participants in Cancer Research UK's All Walk Together event. The divorcee was joined by her daughters, Elizabeth, aged 12, and Katharine, 10.

She was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2000 and underwent a mastectomy, chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

In 2001 she had to have a second mastectomy, followed by more chemotherapy.

She was diagnosed with secondary cancer in her neck in 2004, for which she underwent more treatment. In March last year, another tumour was found in her neck and she had a further 12 weeks of chemotherapy.

Her friend Vanessa Butler said Jo had been diagnosed again in November with cancer in her lungs, which spread to her liver.

"About four weeks ago she was taken to the University Hospital of North Staffordshire but nothing could be done for her. She was in Compton Hospice for three days before her death," said Vanessa. Jo was so strong and she was positive right up to the end," she added.

The funeral will be held at Stafford Crematorium on Wednesday at 9.30am.

"Jo was a rock chick and a party girl. She wanted it to be a celebration of her life. We will all be dressing in pink and blue – her favourite colours," said Vanessa.