Tributes have been paid to a brave and inspirational young woman, who lost a five-year battle with cancer.

Carly Winder’s life was far too brief but, as she lived with cancer and underwent a pioneering operation, she became an inspiration, managing to remain positive, courageous, and caring.

She threw herself into fundraising, and worked to raise the profile of a young person’s cancer charity that supported her.

Carly died last month at the age of 26.

Such was her popularity that her funeral service at St Cuthbert’s Church in Plumbland, near Aspatria, was crammed with mourners – her family supported by Carly’s many friends and former colleagues.

That turn-out came as no surprise to Carly’s family – including her dad David, 52, and mum Gillian, 55, who has paid tribute to Carly.

“She was very strong,” said Gillian, from Plumbland. “Carly was so determined, never complained, and was always smiling.”

It was in in 2010, when Carly was just 20, that she noticed a swelling on her left arm. In August that year, doctors dignosed Ewing’s sarcoma.

“She coped marvellously, really,” recalled Gillian. “It was a big shock, but she just dealt with it.”

In January of 2011, Carly had a pioneering operation at the Royal Victoria Infirmary.

Surgeon Craig Gerrard removed a bone from Carly’s leg and used it to replace the diseased bone in her arm.

“It was the first time it had ever been done,” Gillian said. “Carly was quite happy for it to go ahead.

“She had a lot of physiotherapy, but it meant she would be able to continue using her arm.”

Carly’s cancer reappeared at the start of 2013 and, during her illness, she underwent eight bouts of chemotherapy.

Despite this she got on with life, continuing to enjoy her job with the law firm KJ Commons and Co in Workington, where she was a secretary.

She also found time to support the Teenage Cancer Trust, teaming up with another cancer patient – Penrith’s Tayla CORR Colling – in October 2014 to officially open the Great Cumbrian Run and raise funds for the charity.

Carly had spent time at the trust’s unit at the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle.

At the time, she said: “When you’re spending so much time in hospital, it’s nice to have a home-like environment.

“Meeting and talking to other young people has helped me a lot

during and after treatment.”

She became ill again just before Christmas last year and, after three weeks at the Cumberland Infirmary, was transferred to Eden Valley Hospice in Carlisle.

“She was pleased to have gone there,” said Gillian. “The quality of the care was absolutely superb. They are all so lovely.”

While she was at the hospice, Carly was able to spend quality time with her family, including sister Janine, 29, and brother Jordan, 22, as well as her nieces, Mica, nine, and six-year-old Eva. She also had a visit from her friend Jodie Ivison, now living in London.

Following her death, her family received more than 300 sympathy cards.

Gillian said: “The support we have had has been amazing.”

She added particular thanks to the family’s friends at Ward 34 of Freeman Hospital in Newcastle “for their love, kindness and support over the last five and a half years”.

Louise Miles, regional fundraising manager at Teenage Cancer Trust, said: “Carly was a truly inspirational person who always had a smile to give others."