Charity fundraiser dies of cancer aged 33

A former Shropshire landlady who raised thousands of pounds for charity after beating cancer twice has died at the age of 33 after the disease struck for a third time.

Sarah Sheldon, who ran a pub at Albrighton, near Shifnal, beat cervical and ovarian cancer following a series of operations as well as chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatments.

She threw herself into daredevil stunts, Zumba classes and fundraising for Macmillan Cancer Support after her treatment ended two years ago.

But when Mrs Sheldon developed a pain in her leg this year doctors discovered the cancer had returned, this time in her liver.

They told the office manager, from Codsall, she had six months to live but Sarah died just three weeks later.

She leaves heartbroken husband Wes and step-children James, 21, Joe, 19, and 12-year-old Annie.

Mr Sheldon, 42, today paid tribute to his 'soulmate', whom he married in 2007 at Madeley Court in Telford. The couple met when living in Wiltshire in 2000.

He said: "In marrying me she took on three step-children and she loved them as her own. She worked full-time and did fundraising in her own time, raising £16,000. She was incredibly dedicated.

"When she was ill she never complained, was always fighting, looking on the bright side right until the last. It was only when we were told it was terminal that she really accepted it had beaten her."

Mrs Sheldon, who worked at 4 Forces Security in Wolverhampton, was award- ed a Macmillan Cancer Voice Award for her efforts for the charity last year.

Having grown up in Pendeford while her future husband was raised in nearby Fordhouses, the couple's paths crossed at The Castle and Ball Hotel, in Marlborough, 11 years ago.

Their worlds were turned upside down in 2005 when Sarah was diagnosed with cervical cancer.

The family left pub venture the Horns of Boningale in Albrighton, which they had taken on the year before.

In 2009 she had to do it all again to overcome ovarian cancer.

More than 150 mourners attended a funeral service at Bushbury Crematorium this month.