A POPULAR charity volunteer who fought breast cancer for more than two years has lost her battle against the disease.

Despite undergoing a double mastectomy, Carol Hitchcock was still attending fund-raising events during the days before her death.

The 65-year-old helped to raise thousands of pounds for different organisations and was nominated for a Derby Telegraph Community Champions award.

At her funeral, people will pay tribute to the mother-of-two by wearing pink in recognition of the fund-raising she did for breast cancer charities.

Husband Ron, 63, of St Chad's Road, Normanton, said: "Carol was a hugely popular figure around Derby for her charity work.

"Since 1997, she has volunteered at the Samaritans' shop in the Spot, and she was a people person who loved meeting new people, and who people loved talking to.

"I don't know of anyone that had a bad word for her."

Carol, who died at the Royal Derby Hospital on November 23, grew up in Pelham Street, Derby, and went to Gerard Street School until she was 14.

She started work in the confectionery department at the old Woolworths, in Victoria Street, leaving after 10 years.

As well as her husband, she leaves behind two daughters, Joanne, 40, and Sally, 34, and five grandchildren; Ann-Marie, 17, twins Adam and Jason, nine, Polly-Anna, seven and Ellie-Mae, five.

Sally said her mother worked with the Derby League of Friends, the old Derbyshire Royal Infirmary, the Samaritans, several cancer charities and third world charities.

Sally said: "She has organised concerts and sold records, held table-top sales, made hand-made shawls, and organised summer fetes all over Derby.

"She was certainly a person that, if she was going to do something, would put her heart and soul into it."

Carol was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2006 and underwent gruelling chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatment.

Her funeral will take place at St Luke's Church, in Parliament Street, at 1.45pm on December 9, followed by a committal at Markeaton Crematorium.

Sally added: "It was mum's request that everyone wears pink and black as a reminder to people to stay aware of breast cancer."

Anyone who knew Carol is welcome to attend the funeral service.

Click here to leave a tribute to Carol Hitchcock