COURAGEOUS Ros Marsh may have been fighting terminal breast cancer but she didn’t let it stop her raising more than £100,000 for charity before her death in March.

And it is that fighting spirit that has spurred on her friends, including make-up artist Claire Guy, to sign up for the Prospect Hospice Starlight Walk in her memory in June.

Ros, 46, made it her life ambition to raise £100,000 for Breakthrough Breast Cancer after she was diagnosed with the disease 16 years ago.

In 2008, the mum-of-two was told her illness was terminal, but this only made her more determined to raise money for the charity closest to her heart.

But in March, Ros lost her battle with the disease at Prospect Hospice.

Claire, 33, of Old Walcot, got to know Ros well when their sons were both in the same school year, and over the years that Ros lived with her cancer, the pair became good friends.

“We just started chatting,” said Claire. “We formed a ladies’ dining club with a group of friends together, just socially. We had great fun.”

Shortly before she died, Claire visited Ros and, knowing her commitment to charity, asked her how she would feel if she took part in Prospect’s event.

“Ros was very much in favour of it,” said Claire. “Raising for Prospect Hospice was what she wanted to do at the very end, although she was very poorly.”

Claire last saw Ros just two weeks before she died.

“I knew it would be the last time I would see her and it was very emotional.

“She was such a special person, and it hadn’t seemed like any time since I had seen her when we had been celebrating my birthday at the end of January.

“It was then that she said she would like me to take part in the Starlight Walk.

“I expect it will be a very emotional night for all those of us who will be walking in Ros’ memory.

“She always made light of her cancer, and would just say that she was tired.

“Her attitude was that her illness wasn’t ever going to stop her, which was what made her such an inspirational person.

“I am sure we will all be inspired by her on the night too.”

In 2010, Ros’ brother Richard, who lives in Solihull, penned a song called Running Through New York, to raise money for charity after completing the New York marathon.

He paid tribute to his sister’s determination and courage.

“She put up the fight of all fights,” he said.

“She was such an inspiration to so many people.

“I’ve got some really lovely memories, one of which was going to New York with her to help raise money for her breast cancer charity.

The Starlight Walk, on Saturday June 30, is a women’s nightwalk to raise money for the hospice over either a 10k or 15k route.

“It is being supported by Nationwide Building Society for the fifth consecutive year.

To register for Prospect Hospice’s Starlight Walk, visit www.prospect-hospice.net/starlight.

To sponsor or join Claire and friends in their group, ‘Walking for Ros’, visit www.justgiving.co.uk/ claireguy2012