Family and friends gathered together at the weekend in memory of a Sunderland woman who sadly died earlier this year.

Tracy Chapman-Cruddace lost her fight with cancer on February 23 just 47 days after she was diagnosed.

The 56-year-old started to suffer from stomach and shoulder pains over the Christmas period, “so much so that she was curled up on the floor with it”.

After a visit to urgent care, accident and emergency and multiple hospital appointments, she was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer on January 7.

Around 50 of Tracy’s family and friends took part in a sponsored walk on Saturday, April 11, from Latimers Seafood, in Whitburn, to the Bungalow Cafe, in Roker, and back again

placeholder image — Around 50 of Tracy’s family and friends took part in a sponsored walk on Saturday, April 11, from Latimers Seafood, in Whitburn, to the Bungalow Cafe, in Roker, and back again

Her husband, Dean Cruddace, said: “The 7 January was the day we found out – they said it was too advanced.

"Before then, we did not know it was cancer. We were told, that was it, it would be palliative care.

"There was an option to start chemo, which would give her a bit longer, and we did everything we could to get her ready for that, but she didn’t make it.”

Tracy also leaves behind her daughters Tanisha Chapman, 25, Stacy Stores, 36, and Yasmin Chapman, 35.

Tracy Chapman-Cruddace is pictured on her wedding day alongside husband Dean Cruddace and daughters Tanisha Chapman, Stacy Stores and Yasmin Chapman.

In memory of Tracy, and to raise money for Pancreatic Cancer UK, around 50 of Tracy’s family and friends took part in a sponsored walk on Saturday, April 11.

The group walked from Latimers Seafood, in Whitburn, to the Bungalow Cafe, in Roker, and back again, raising more than £3,000 for Pancreatic Cancer UK.

Dean said: "You hear about cancer in all sorts of organs but never in the pancreas. It’s just so hard to detect.”

He added: “The whole process seemed like forever, but in terms of cancer, it was really quick.”

Tracy Chapman-Cruddace sadly lost her fight with cancer on February 23 just 47 days after she was diagnosed.

Speaking about her mum, Tanisha said: “There are no words that could ever truly describe the woman she was. She was our strength, our protector, our safe place. The heart of our home and our family.

"She was the most beautifully stubborn woman. Fierce and headstrong, always putting others before herself.

"My mam was one of a kind.”

Dean plans on organising more fundraisers in the future in Tracy’s memory, and to try and raise as much money as possible for Pancreatic Cancer UK.

Donations to the charity can be made at https://bit.ly/4msYQM8.