A PERSONAL miracle lies behind a young cafe owner's decision to fund-raise for Macmillan Cancer Support, - the two year old daughter she thought she would never have.

Jade Clifford, aged 25, of Delilahs cafe in New Street said it was a "really frightening time" when, five years ago, she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer.

Then, aged just 20, she faced 12 sessions of chemotherapy at Hereford County Hospital, involving two different types of chemotherapy, and doctors told her she would never have children.

"And I really wanted to have children", said Miss Clifford.

The treatment left the young woman with only her left ovary.

"Chemotherapy killed all my eggs, and tests said I was infertile," she added.

However, two years ago, against all the odds, Miss Clifford became pregnant with Lilah.

She said: "I just became pregnant naturally with Lilah. It was out of the blue.

"She is very pretty, and this is a very happy ending."

Since her treatment and recovery, Miss Clifford has been determined to say thank you for all the support she received during the time she was ill.

She said: "I went to Cheltenham to see Macmillan for help and advice, although they did not come to my house."

This Friday, September 26, Delilahs will host a Macmillan Coffee Morning, from 9am to 11am.

Customers will be asked to donate to the charity, and Miss Clifford, who lives on the Homend, hopes to raise at least £200 for the good cause this way.

She said: "I now have the perfect opportunity to give something back.

"I would like as many people as possible to come and support us. Ledbury is a tight-knit community and cancer has affected a lot of people we know."

The cafe owner and proud mum is no stranger to fund-raising and charity work.

Before she opened Delilahs, in October 2013, she worked at St Michael's Hospice, Bartestree, as a volunteer.

And in 2012, she tackled the Race for Life in Hereford, for Cancer Research UK.

Now she is raising a coffee cup in thanks for the medical support that was there for her, when she most needed it.