A YOUNG woman who survived cervical cancer against all the odds is campaigning, together with Jade Goody’s mother, to have the screening age lowered.

Lisa Askew will be handing in a 10,000 signature petition to 10 Downing Street with Jackiey Budden, mother of the late reality TV star who died in March last year at the age of 27.

They are appealing for smear tests in England to be offered from the age of 20, as they are in Ireland, Scotland and Wales, instead of 25.

“Every year, hundreds of women and their families in England suffer from cervical changes and cancers, because they are unable to access the same services that are available elsewhere in the UK,”

said Mrs Askew, who lives in Stockton.

“Our aim with this petition is to lower the age of screening in England so that these women do not suffer or lose their lives unnecessarily.

“I suspect that this will not happen, but we would like doctors to be given the choice to refer women for further investigation,”

added Mrs Askew, an ambassador for Cancer Research UK.

“At the moment, they have their hands tied as they have to follow government guidelines.”

Because her cancer was so advanced, chemotherapy and a hysterectomy were the only treatments available, shattering her dream of having children at the age of 30.

Now 34, she has been in remission for three years and is looking to the future with husband Andrew and pet terrier Mini.

Yesterday, they celebrated a milestone she feared they would never see – their sixth wedding anniversary.

Mrs Askew works part-time as an auxillary nurse at North Tees University Hospital, in Stockton, and fundraises voraciously for local charities including Butterwick Hospice.

She is also on a major health kick and has shed more than 30lb in three months.

An army of supporters are expected to accompany Mrs Askew, Miss Budden and fellow cancer survivor Debra Hill to London when they hand in the petition on November 11.

“Jade’s mum lost her daughter to cervical cancer at a very young age, so we are so grateful that Jackiey has agreed to help us and give us her backing.”

To sign the petition, go to gopetition.co.uk/petitions/ lower-the-age-for-cervicalscreening-in-england.html