Claire was just 23 when she lost her fight against cervical cancer in October. But even when treatments failed to save her own life, she continued to support other women around the world who were also suffering from the disease.

The young mum campaigned to the last to see the age for cervical smear testing dropped from 25 to 18 so early signs could be spotted before it was too late.

>> To sign the petition, print out this form and return it to Marissa Carruthers, Sunderland Echo, Echo House, Pennywell Industrial Estate, Sunderland SR4 9ER


The simple test could have been enough to save her own life, but she was four years too young for a smear test at the time she was diagnosed with cervical cancer.

Now her husband Colin, 27, who she wed in Las Vegas just months before she died, has launched a website – Claire's Message – which he hopes will help the family continue her fight.

"It's to raise awareness. I don't want it to be an emotional thing – there's stuff I could have put on there that could have you sobbing your heart out," said Colin, from Talley Court, Washington.

"I want young people to go on just to see what Claire was like and how she was always smiling. But it's to help raise awareness, and there's still more to go on.

"There's information on there about the campaign, and about cervical cancer. There's also links to the cervical cancer charity website, Jo's Trust, and other websites and media coverage.

"There's a picture gallery with photos from our wedding and our wedding video is still to go on."

Colin got help building the website from Ian Wright, of North East web design company New World Designs.

"He's been really great. He bought nine domain names for use and paid for them. It was really good of him," said Colin.

"I just looked up web design companies in the area and he came up. I got in touch and he said he didn't usually do personal websites – he normally does them for companies – but when I told him Claire's story he said he would help."

As well as Colin and two-year-old son Alex, Claire, of Roche Court, Glebe, Washington also left behind dad Bob, 55, mum Lyn, 46, brother James, 20, sister Rachael, 16, and grandmother Joy.

The family have already gathered more than 5,000 signatures on a petition calling for the age for smear testing to be dropped from 25 to 18.

Top politicians from every state in the USA are among the names on the document – as is the signature of the family's MP, Fraser Kemp.

Mr Kemp, who represents Houghton and Washington East, took the family's fight to Parliament in December and MPs from all parties have now signed a motion backing the campaign in the House of Commons.

Mr Kemp also secured a debate on the issue in Parliament, and health minister Ann Keen has now pledged to review all the evidence used to set the age for smear testing.

• The Claire's Message website is now up and running at www.clairesmessage.org

• Colin has also had 2,500 wristbands made to sell in a bid to raise cash for research into cervical cancer. The wristbands cost £1 and are available from the Echo reception.