The family of a cancer victim who scrimped and saved to pay £18,000 for miracle treatment abroad are still mourning her death.

Beverley Pearce, who would have been 47 last Sunday, was diagnosed with Hodgkinsons lymphoma in 2000.

Mrs Pearce, of Ramsden View, Wickford, was treated for a year at Basildon Hospital and Bart's in London, before being sent home last Christmas and told nothing more could be done.

Her mother, Molly Durkin, of Moretons, Pitsea, said: "She was sent home to die but we did not want to give up."

Beverley's husband Paul scoured the internet and found a private clinic in Germany which told the family it could cure Beverley.

Molly was appalled they would have to pay for treatment and that the NHS had "given up" on Beverley.

However, after almost two months of treatment totalling £18,000, the family could not pay any more, and as Beverley was doing so well decided to bring her home.

"She was a lot better," said Molly. "But she went downhill so quickly and died in St Luke's Hospice. She could not get the same treatment here."

Beverley, an accountant before working at Lloyds Chemist in Billericay, left sons Gavin, 24, and Duane, 25, and daughter Lucy, 22, who has a baby son, Lucas.

Published Thursday August 15, 2002

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