A GROUP of women affected by cancer have been striking a pose as live mannequins in a shop window to help raise awareness about the disease.

The event was organised by Sharon Chorley of TLC Clothing, Blackhill, Consett, who lost her husband and her daughter to cancer.

Her daughter, Toni, died aged 23, two days after Christmas in 2008 following a three-year battle with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, after the cancer returned for a third time.

The aspiring model’s death came three months after her father, Phil, died aged 61, after suffering from bowel cancer.

After the double tragedy, Mrs Chorley, decided to start raising money for charity and threw herself into her women’s fashion business, opening her shop eight years ago.

Mrs Chorley: “The shop’s name TLC stands for my daughter’s initials Tony Louise Chorley, or tender love and care. Toni loved clothes.

“Since I have opened the shop I have worked alongside a lot of woman who have lost their breasts, who have suffered cancer or have had people in their family suffer from the disease.

“They have modelled for me in the past and today is more about them. All the fashion shows and money raised goes to charity.

“It is all about raising awareness and making it easier for families, because I know what I went through. It was very difficult. This helps me move on with my life.”

The event raised £466 for Macmillan Cancer Support, who provided Mrs Chorley with support while her husband lay in one hospital and her daughter in another.

Mrs Chorley said: “I’ve done goody bags, fashion shows and balls and ladies charity days.

“This was something different. Decided to have a fun day, move all the mannequins out of the shop and have people posing in the shop windows.

“When people walked past and saw the woman move, it was quite funny.”

One of her models, Christine Murray, said: “I found a lump a the end of 2016 and had it removed. I had chemotherapy and I lost my hair.Sharon has been amazing. She is really good.”

Mrs Chorley’s daughter, Toni, a former Prudhoe High School pupil was first diagnosed with cancer, six weeks after heading to London having graduated with a degree in theatre studies.

She had dreamt of becoming a model, had been signed up to the Zeebra agency in Sunderland and been likened to the 60s icon Twiggy.

Instead of pursuing her dreams she moved back home to begin her lengthy battle with the illness, which included aggressive sessions of chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

Mrs Chorley said: “I will always raise money because my last words to her were ‘I will not let you be forgotten’ and I won’t, because she was my baby.”

Michelle Muir, fundraising manager for Macmillan Cancer Support said: “Sharon is such an inspirational lady, who has gone through so much and has so far raised an amazing £22,000 for Macmillan.

“It is massive and really goes a long way to support people within the local area.”