THE family of a 40 year old mother of two who has been diagnosed with terminal cancer say her greatest wish is to return to her native Poland to be buried.

A fund has been started to help Magda Cyran and her heartbroken family who live in Bedale and to try and pay towards funeral expenses.

Magda's husband Przemyslaw said they thought she had beaten the disease after being treated for breast cancer five years ago and she was in remission, but it has returned.

He said: "Then we thought at long last Magda got her independence back and was able to start working again. Everyone could see that life is finally back on track for us and then another bombshell, the cancer returned.

"This time, it attacked the liver and was too far advanced to cure. The doctors focused on prolonging Magda’s life through gruelling treatment of aggressive chemo and although everyone remained hopeful that she will make a full recovery, it has become apparent that her diagnosis remains terminal."

Przemyslaw, 42, who works as a fork lift truck driver, said they are currently taking one day at a time. He added: "Our world has collapsed, we are living with the knowledge that the bomb could explode at any time. Magda is still with us but every day is a challenge of managing the pain and worrying about the future of the children and how I will support them when she is no longer here to look after them.

"I work a three shift pattern which will not be possible when I am left alone to care for the kids. This causes constant worries and is tainting the precious moments we have left together.

"There is also the cost of a burial. It is very expensive and Magda expressed that she would like to be taken back to her hometown in Poland. A lot of people have offered their support already for which we are eternally grateful."

The couple, who have a son and daughter aged 12 and 11, met in the UK after both moving here separately from Poland 15 years ago.

Przemyslaw added: "We lived 600 miles apart in Poland, we would never have met if we had not moved here. We married a few months after meeting and had two beautiful children. We lived in the bliss of parenthood and then Magda received the worst news a mother could get that she had breast cancer.

"She just wanted to watch the children grow up. This is so difficult but people have been so kind." uk.gofundme.com/f/magdas-final-wish?