IT WAS an emotional day for family and friends of a woman who lost her courageous battle with cancer as they gathered for a fundraising event in her name.

Donna Preston, of St Bees, who died last month at the age of 52, was the manager at Workington's Costa Coffee.

The impact she had on people’s lives was evident at the weekend, as crowds gathered at The Albert Hotel in the village to raise funds.

Her husband Paul said: “Donna was the love of my life. She was the bravest person I know and she fought to the very, very end. She would have been so touched by what everyone’s done, although she didn’t like a fuss.”

There was a coffee morning for Macmillan Cancer Support, as well as a tombola, raffle and afternoon tea raising money for Hospice at Home West Cumbria.

Family friend Megan Agnew had her long locks cut off in a Brave the Shave event.

The 26-year-old said: “Donna meant the world to us. My daughters called her their adopted grandma.

“When we told Donna what I was going to do, she said it made her feel 10ft tall.

“She wanted to hang on, but even though she didn’t make it, she’s still a part of it.

“It made the day more special. She’ll be laughing at me up there.”

Donna, who was the manager at Workington’s Costa Coffee, started to knit Megan a hat to keep her head warm following the shave. However, she never got the chance to finish it, so a friend of hers took over.

When Donna died, Megan cut off some of her hair and put it in her coffin.

“Even though she didn’t make it, she’s still a part of it,” she said.

Megan, who hadn’t had her hair chopped for the past 12 months, has donated her locks to the Little Princess Trust.

Fundraising for Hospice at Home West Cumbria has reached £1,600 and sponsor money is still being collected for Macmillan Cancer Support.