THE inspirational story of Shirley Garman and her dying wish has struck a chord with one Rodbourne grandmother.

Ellen Goodsall decided to use her 80th birthday party to raise more than £500 towards Shirley's dream of raising £1m to help fight breast cancer.

Ellen was so determined to raise as much as possible she even donated the money for her birthday cake.

Shirley's story, which was featured in Tuesday's Adver, has touched the hearts of many.

The inspirational 60-year-old has beaten breast cancer twice in the past 15 years but has now been told that she has just days to live, as the disease has spread to her brain. Now she has one wish left - to see Wiltshire Breakthrough Breastcancer, which she started in 1995, hit its £1m milestone.

Ellen, of Southbrook Extension, has known Shirley for many years and has been involved with raising money for Breakthrough.

She said: "I didn't know about the target until I saw the article. She's such a lovely woman and a real inspiration and I just hope she can make it to her target. I knew I had to do something to help and, with my birthday coming up, I thought this would be perfect."

Ellen has fought breast cancer and has seen the disease affect her family.

She said: "I'm one of the lucky ones and I want to do as much as I can to help people who are in the position I was in."

The party, which raised £520.40 for the charity, was organised by Ellen's 19-year-old grand-daughter, Michaela, who now plans to join the Wiltshire Breakthrough group's committee.

She said: "My gran has been involved with raising money for the charity for as long as I can remember and now I want to do my bit. Shirley's story was a real inspiration."

Since Shirley gave up the helm, husband and wife team, Paul and Lynn Parfrey, have become the figureheads of the charity.

Paul said: "Since the article appeared we've had a fantastic response.

"We raised about £400 before the party and there are lots of events coming up in the near future."

One of these events is an attempt by Darren Jesson, store manager at the Outlet Centre M&S store, to swim 1,344 lengths - the equivalent of swimming the channel - at the David Lloyd Fitness Centre, on October 25 and 26.

For more information on the group, and how to help them make Shirley's last wish come true go to www. breakthrough.org.uk/wiltshiregroup or call Paul and Lynn on 07929 725708.