Brave Berni loses her cancer battle after campaign for treatment in US

Berni Cliffe, 53, of Audlem, near Market Drayton, died after a battle with stage four cancer of the gall bladder yesterday morning.

Mrs Cliffe was the centre of the Mend Our Mum campaign launched by daughters Terri and Hannah, who hoped to raise £100,000 so she could be treated in America.

She was diagnosed with cancer in June last year but NHS treatment for her cancer at such a late stage was not available.

It had already reached its latest stage by diagnosis, and doctors said that with chemotherapy, the mother-of-two could only expect to live about nine to 12 months.

Without treatment, she was given just three months by doctors.

Her daughters, along with husband Colin, decided to push for the funds and were overwhelmed by support from others around the village.

People from all over Audlem and surrounding villages produced a charity record and music video of Amazing Grace, which was shown on ITV news, Good Morning Britain and Granada Reports, as well as regional and national BBC news broadcasts.

Fun runs, charity beard cuts and raffles helped to raise money along the way as well as sponsored walks including an Audlem Easter bonnet parade around the village which saw more than 70 people take part.

The campaign hit the £100,000 mark in March and Mrs Cliffe travelled to London for surgery before then going to Texas with husband Colin and her family to undergo further surgery where she spent seven weeks.

But the Mend Our Mum Facebook group, along with the Audlem community website announced that Mrs Cliffe sadly died at 3.16am yesterday.

In a statement from Audlem Online it said: "We are sure that everyone's thoughts are with Colin, Terri and Hannah and Berni's family and many friends this morning. Her brave battle touched so many people far and wide."

Her family said they wanted to thank all the staff at St Luke's Cheshire Hospice in Winsford for the fantastic care she has received over the past few weeks.