Community mourns Paula, who lost her brave battle with cancer

Paula Wood, 43, died on Sunday (October 31), just months after friends and family abandoned the drive to pay for life-prolonging medication, because the tumour, which she was first diagnosed with in 2004, had started to grow again.

She and husband Alge Worsop, first appeared in the Littlehampton Gazette in March, and since then more than £20,000 has been raised, through a wide range of events, but despite Avastin having an initial impact, Paula, from Angmering, was taken off the drug by doctors when it stopped working,

Her brother, Phil, said: “We can never thank enough the people who have helped her, for what they have done for just one person.

“She was wonderful, she was very family orientated, very private, but her family was everything to her.”

He added that Paula, a former Littlehampton Comprehensive School pupil, had been the guest of honour at a family party the weekend before she died, to mark her 43rd birthday.

“It’s been very tough, the last couple of months,” said Phil, “she had fought the tumour for so, so long, but the last few weeks, it just got the better of her, and she slipped away.”

A Facebook page, set up as part of the fund-raising drive, has seen tributes pour in since her death.

Judy Heasman posted: “Her kindness, humour and love, through all her pain, was legendary. I am honoured to be part of her life.”

Debbie Pine said: “Remembering happy-go-lucky school days with such a sweetie, so very sorry to hear such sad news. Rest in peace, beautiful lady.”

Dan Hemingway said that Paula’s “determination and positiveness” amazed him.

“So many in her situation would have done the opposite. You will not be forgotten, Paula, by so many of us. Heaven really should have waited,” he added.

The funeral will be held at Worthing Crematorium on Wednesday, at 12.30pm. Family flowers only please, but donations in Paula’s name can be made to St Barnabas’ House hospice.