Cancer patient Ann Sandeman is backing a campaign urging people to be barbecue heroes.

Cancer Research UK is calling on people to have a barbecue and ask guests to make a donation to attend.

Ms Sandeman, 43, and children Hannah, 10, Emma, eight and Ben, six, invited 100 family and friends to their event and raised £2,500.

Ms Sandeman, of Hastings, was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2007. She was pregnant with her third child but went ahead with chemotherapy during her pregnancy and Ben was born fit and well. But in 2010, the cancer returned in her chest cavity, making it treatable but incurable.

Ms Sandeman has held the disease at bay for four years and has just finished her fifth course of chemotherapy.

She said: “My future is still uncertain but my children remain my motivation to keep going. I’m also determined to raise as much money as possible for Cancer Research UK.”

For an information pack, visit www.cruk.org/BBQ.