By Chris Story

Last updated 13:53, Wednesday, 14 May 2008

NOT even the devastating news that her young life was about to come to an end could dampen Ebbie Adams’ zest for living.

Inspiring: Ebbie Adams, who died of cancer five months ago, aged 22, with her cousin Laura McGimpsey

Throughout her two-year battle with an aggressive form of leukaemia she never once complained openly about the pain she undoubtedly endured.

And every time doctors offered her another treatment, she took it – determined to live as normal a life as possible for as long as she could.

Sadly Ebbie, of Gretna, died in December, aged just 22. But her family and friends are determined that her inspirational legacy of courage should live on and are about to embark on a charitable challenge in her name.

Ebbie’s cousin, Laura McGimpsey, of Brydekirk, near Annan, and friends Tracey Williamson, 30, of Hollee, near Kirkpatrick Fleming, Sarah James, 28, of Eastriggs, and Donna Newton, 29, of Waterbeck, near Eaglesfield, will be taking part in the Resolution Asset Management Women’s 10k run in Glasgow on Sunday.

They are raising money for Leukaemia Research and child cancer support charity CLIC Sargent and will run wearing t-shirts with a photograph of Ebbie on the back in tribute to her.

Tax consultant Laura, 31, said: “She never moaned – even when she was really ill. She never gave up.

“When the doctor told her that there was nothing they could do, she went to the oncology unit at Dumfries, where she made a real impression on the staff. It did not matter what treatment they offered her, she would take it.

“Ebbie took everything they could give her. She never moaned, she never gave up. She led a normal life on the days she was feeling good. She had such a brave outlook.

“Even when she knew she was going to die, she thought she should make the most of the time she had left. It is sad really.”

Former Annan Academy pupil Ebbie, who worked in the offices of Longtown firm JD Pipes, was 19 when she was diagnosed with cancer in early September 2005.

She was immediately determined to do everything possible to overcome the illness and underwent chemotherapy – during which time she suffered a stroke – at a Glasgow hospital before receiving stem cell replacement in May 2006.

Her mum June, of Central Avenue, Gretna, gave up work to help care for her, supported by her close-knit family.

In December 2006 – just two months after celebrating her 21st birthday – doctors discovered that the cancer had returned in a more aggressive form.

“When it came back, the only thing she could get was a bone-marrow transplant. They found as perfect a match as you can get and she had the transplant in May 2007. It went well and she got through it, despite complications,” Laura said.

Ebbie went into remission, but in August came the news that the cancer had returned again.

This time, there was nothing the doctors could do.

Now her family and friends hope that by fundraising, they can help improve the lives of others battling cancer.

Laura said: “We cannot bring Ebbie back, but we can raise money to help other people.”

Donations can be made to the women running in Ebbie’s memory by going to www.justgiving.com/lauramcgimpsey.

CStory@cngroup.co.uk