FAMILY and friends of courageous mum Alice Pemberton-Barlow are busy baking up treats to support a charity close to her heart.

Alice, 31, from Knutsford, had her left leg amputated in February after being diagnosed with bone cancer when her son Bertie was just nine months old.

Alice received ‘wonderful’ emotional and practical support from the Mummy’s Star charity, and is organising a coffee morning to thank the organisation and raise awareness of its work.

The fundraiser takes place at the Railway Inn in Mobberley on Halloween, Wednesday, October 31, and everyone is welcome to come along.

Alice is an actuary for Lloyds Banking Group at Leeds, and is looking to make a phased return to work, as well as focusing her efforts on getting used to her prosthetic leg.

She documents her treatment and its impact on her as a mum in a blog called Bertie’s Mummy.

“Next week’s coffee morning is to raise money for the wonderful charity Mummy’s Star, which supports women diagnosed with cancer during pregnancy or shortly after their baby has been born,” said Alice.

“I was diagnosed with bone cancer last year when my little boy Bertie was just nine months old, and I had my left leg amputated in February this year as a result.

“Mummy’s Star were fabulous with me - they visited me at my home for emotional support and advice, provided a grant to assist with childcare costs while I was in hospital having chemotherapy, and put me in touch with other new mums in a similar situation.

“I have a blog on Facebook which documents my adventures as a mummy with one leg. I’ve really enjoyed sharing my journey on there and found everyone’s positive comments really inspiring in my lowest moments.”

The coffee morning runs from 10am to noon, and is being organised by Alice, helped by her auntie Sandra Jones from Lostock Gralam.

Alice is making a Victoria sponge for the fundraiser, and a suggested donation of £5 is being invited for coffee and cake from those coming along.

She said: “We have about 20 family and friends baking, and have had some amazing prizes donated by local businesses in Knutsford for our raffle.

“I’m really looking forward to it - as it’s Halloween Bertie will be dressing up as a spider, and children who are coming along are welcome to dress up.”

She thanked everyone for supporting the event, including her sister Grace, who has been sorting out the raffle prizes. If you would like to donate a prize please contact the Railway Inn.

Alice has set up a justgiving page for anyone who can't attend the coffee morning but who still wishes to make a donation.

The page has raised £265, and £61 in Gift Aid, and to make a donation visit justgiving.com/fundraising/alice-pemberton-barlow

In her blog Alice says: “In 2017 when Bertie was just nine months old, a tumour was found in my left thigh bone and I was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer.

“Just days after we celebrated Bertie’s first birthday I underwent an above the knee amputation, which I was determined would be life-saving and not life-destroying.

“And so, as Bertie fast approaches the day he will take his first steps, his mummy wonders when she will take hers.

“This blog aims to share my experience of life with a little one whilst overcoming your own life challenges, in the hope that it might resonate with at least one person out there.”

Mummy’s Star is the only charity in the UK and Ireland dedicated to supporting women and their families affected by cancer during pregnancy or within 12 months after giving birth.