CLAIRE Leach was delighted at becoming a mother 11 years ago but her joy was short-lived.

Just weeks later her world was shattered when she was told, at 28, she had a brain tumour.

She said: “I will never forget that day. My whole world collapsed. I just thought, this cannot be happening. I’ve got a new baby and I’m going to die. It was terrifying.”

Claire, from Rottingdean, had been having seizures during her pregnancy but doctors put it down to the pregnancy and possible pre-eclampsia.

She was induced a week early to try to avoid further problems but the fits continued after baby Kerry was born.

Claire was referred to a neurologist who said he could see something on her brain. Then they broke the news she had a glioma brain tumour.

She said: “It was devastating to hear that but I had to continue for my new-born daughter – I was determined to be there for her.”

The tumour was slow-growing so surgeons decided to leave it and monitor it.

However two years later they said the time was right to remove tumour, which by now was the size of a golf ball.

It was a scary time for Claire because she did not know what was going to happen next.

Claire underwent a lengthy and difficult operation to cut out the tumour. It went well and she returned home feeling optimistic, although she was left battling side effects.

She said: “I couldn’t speak at all and I had to learn to talk again. I couldn’t move the right side of my body.

“However my surgeon said I would regain both abilities and I trusted him and just got on with it.”

At first Claire could not do anything for Kerry and her husband Andrew had to do everything for the baby and be his wife’s carer.

Claire also had to temporarily give up her driving licence which was an extra blow.

Claire’s determination meant she did get her movement and speech back, although it was a slow process and sometimes she struggled to find a word.

However she was eventually able to return to work and began enjoying life with her daughter and husband Andrew again.

She was off all medication and just attended regular check-ups.

Claire said: “Everything was going well with my life. I felt the most confident I had ever felt.”

All was well until 2015 when doctors delivered the devastating news there were further cancer cells infiltrating her brain like tiny spider webs.

Claire said: “It had always been at the back of my mind that it could come back, but I felt so well, it didn’t seem possible.

“I was so complacent that I had started to drive to my check-ups on my own. When they told me, my stomach turned over. Everything just came crashing down. I was in a state of shock.”

Initially doctors didn’t think it was an immediate threat but the next scan showed the cancer was on the move and in the area around where the original tumour had been.

It was too dangerous to remove it as it was too deep and would affect Claire’s speech.

So, in March last year Claire began a course of 30 radiotherapy sessions to try to stop the tumour in its tracks or shrink it.

During the radiotherapy, Claire lost almost all her hair and was just left with a patch at the back.

She said: “My dad came with me to almost every radiotherapy session. When I decided my hair looked ridiculous, I asked my dad to shave it off.

“I think he found that very hard – he never thought he would have to shave his daughter’s head.”

So far the scans have shown the tumour has stabilised and she is staying positive.

Claire is now back working part-time at the Sussex Community Development Association.

Now 40, she said: “Even though this is hard for me, I have to remain positive, especially for Kerry, who is now 11.

“I feel like I missed out on her childhood – I just didn’t have the energy for much of it.

“I want to be there for her now. She has been a tower of strength and always tried to chivvy me along. She’s like a little angel. She has been really brave and hasn’t really cried about it.”

Claire has been warned the tumour will probably return in the future.

She said “It could be months, or hopefully years, I just don’t know. I have to live one day at a time.

“I do struggle with depression but I have Kerry to think about so I have to keep positive. I hope I can be around to see her get married.”

“I wouldn’t be able to get through this without my dad who has been a rock, my family and friends and my surgeon, Giles Critchley at Hurstwood Park neuroscience centre in Haywards Heath.

“But what we really need is more funding for more research. Every person with a brain tumour will know it’s an horrific disease.

“It needs more funding and awareness so that more people don’t have to suffer this cruel disease.”

Claire is backing Cancer Research UK and World Cancer Day on Saturday by urging people to buy special unity bands and make a donation to charity.

Claire said: “It is such a simple thing to do but if everyone in Sussex bought one, imagine the money that would raise.

“That money could help someone like me and thousands of other people in the future.”

About 49,100 people are diagnosed with cancer in the south east each year.

Cancer Research UK spokeswoman for Sussex Lynn Daly said: “World Cancer Day provides an opportunity for people to show that together we can be a powerful force to beat cancer sooner.

“Survival has doubled since the early 1970s and Cancer Research UK’s work has been at the heart of that progress – but every step our doctors, nurses and scientists take relies on donations from the public and the tireless fundraising of our supporters.”

This year the charity is working with nine other organisations to encourage people to wear a unity band and help raise vital funds.

By joining together, the charities hope to raise awareness and make an impact in transforming the lives of millions who are affected by cancer.

Every band worn, every donation made and everyone who shows their support will help save more lives by funding research that will accelerate Cancer Research UK’s progress in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cancer.

The bands are available in all of the charity’s shops for a suggested donation of £2.

For details visit cruk.org.uk/worldcancerday.

The other charities taking part in the national awareness day include CLIC Sargent, Movember Foundation, Anthony Nolan, Breast Cancer Care, Breast Cancer now, Bowel Cancer UK, Children’s Cancer and Leukaemia Group, Marie Curie and The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity in London.