A woman battling cancer is stepping out on a sponsored walk to thank her Macmillan nurse who has been an inspiration through her illness.

Theresa Bower was diagnosed with cancer last November and will complete her course of radiotherapy next month.

She said she could not have coped through the emotional rollercoaster without the help of nurse Beverly Hurst.

Now Mrs Bower, pictured, of Shipley, is urging others to take part in the five-mile Shipley Stride to raise cash for the Bradford Macmillan Appeal.

"One in three people are going to get cancer but there are not one in three Macmillan nurses. I was extremely lucky to be allocated a nurse," said Mrs Bower, 37.

"Beverly has been there when the tears have started and when I was so depressed I wanted just to sleep.

"I had just flatly refused to talk to anybody for a few days but Beverly came knocking at my door."

Mrs Bower, who works as a team leader at the Cathedral Centre in Bradford, will take part in the fundraising event with her husband Ian and dog Max.

The German Shepherd will carry collection canisters to boost the coffers of the appeal which aims to raise £675,000 to fund specialist nurses and an ethnic minorities liaison worker in the Bradford district.

Another volunteer for the walk is 39-year-old Angela Broadbent, of Eccleshill, who was also diagnosed with cancer in November and has successfully undergone treatment.

"A lot of people don't think about doing a sponsored walk and I was one of them, but unless you have been in this situation it is difficult to know how much a Macmillan nurse can help," she said.

"I was so distraught when I was diagnosed because I'd never even had an operation in my life before but Beverly was there for me straight away - she even went down to the operating theatre with me."

The walk takes place on Sunday, May 18. For a registration form contact the appeal office on (01274) 365905.