THE daughters of a Basingstoke mum, who has been told she will never be cured of cancer, organised a fete to give something back to the hospital ward where she is being treated.

In April last year, Diana Reid was told she had follicular non Hodgkin’s lymphoma – a cancer of the lymph nodes.

The 64-year-old, from Buckland Avenue, immediately underwent an operation followed by seven months of chemotherapy treatment. But the mother-of-five and grandmother-of-18 was told by doctors that they can only treat the cancer, not cure it.

She said: “It was absolutely devastating. People assume that when you have cancer you can be cured, but I can’t. I can be treated but there’s not a cure. I did ask how long they thought it would be before it comes back but everyone is different.”

Mrs Reid had never heard of this particular cancer when she was diagnosed, and hopes the fete will raise awareness of it.

She added: “Breast cancer and bowel cancer is talked about but no one knows about follicular non Hodgkin’s lymphoma. I have to learn to live with it and be positive.”

Mrs Reid lost her hair during chemotherapy treatment, and although now in 90 per cent remission, she will still need intravenous drugs during the next two years.

She is being treated at the Elizabeth Hall unit, at Basingstoke hospital , which is where the money raised at the fete will be donated.

Her daughter Dawna Yule, a mother-of-three, from Brookvale, who helped to organise the event, said: “It was a shock when mum was diagnosed. It just feels that we are giving something back by doing this. The unit at the hospital is fantastic and they look after her really well.”

The fete in Glebe Gardens attracted hundreds of people. Visitors could listen to a live band, browse various stalls, have their faces painted or even enter a talent show.

There was also a display from a Basingstoke dance group, plus games for children, refreshments and a barbecue. Thanks to match funding from Barclays, the event raised £1,300.

Mrs Yule said: “People have been fantastic and have given up their time and I would like to say thank you to them. The support is brilliant.”