"YOU are all just amazing!"

Those are the words of a very grateful Amanda D'argue who inspired hundreds of people to dig deep for two cancer charities.

Overwhelmed by the support and response she received during her very public battle with breast cancer, Amanda wanted to reciprocate the love and good wishes by issuing a very special message.

The mother-of-two has just handed over more than £6,000 to Christie Hospital and Cancer Research UK thanks to the fundraising efforts of family, friends, work colleagues and total strangers.

Speaking from her home in Winchester Road, Radcliffe, Amanda said: "I want to say thank-you' but to be honest, it doesn't really convey what I feel about this.

"It is the most amazing thing I have experienced. All these people, many of whom I have never even met, went to so much trouble. They're just amazing!"

The 40-year-old first inspired Bury Times readers when she was controversially refused the wonderdrug Herceptin by Bolton Primary Care Trust as part of her treatment for breast cancer.

Having been diagnosed with the illness in July last year, Amanda underwent a rapid course of treatment including an immediate mastectomy, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Amanda, a bank worker and Body Shop at Home consultant, applied to Bolton Primary Care Trust (PCT) for Herceptin in a bid to prevent the disease from returning as she was considered to be in a high-risk group.

However, the PCT initially refused the drug as, at £21,000 a year, Herceptin was thought to be too expensive.

Following public support, in the form of petitions and recommendation from Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt, Bolton and 13 other PCTs within Greater Manchester agreed to prescribe Herceptin in certain cases.

Amanda embarked on her course of the intravenous drug in May this year and the treatment will last around 18 months.

During Amanda's battle against breast cancer and all her subsequent treatment she has taken part in numerous fundraising events as have hundreds of her supporters.

She said: "Initially, when I was told I couldn't have Herceptin, everyone just sprung into action and started raising money to fund my treatment. I said at the time that if I was successful in obtaining funding then I would donate the money to charity.

"And if it wasn't for organisations like Christie's and Cancer Research then I wouldn't have had a drug to fight for, so it was only natural that the money should go to them." Over the past 15 months there have been a string of events raising money for Amanda's cause. In particular, she wants to thank her sister Audrey Hogan' s employers, Leigh's Paints in Bolton, and her own employers, the Co-operative Bank in Manchester.

She added: "There are so many people I would love to thank that I can't do it individually, but Audrey's colleagues really pushed the boat out for me and my employers have been fantastic. It really does mean as much to me now as it did at the time.

"What everyone did made me feel that I wasn't fighting this alone. I had a big army of supporters behind me. I couldn't have done anything without them."

Amanda is making good progress with the treatment and still undergoes rigorous checks to make sure the cancer doesn't return.

In fact, at her appointment at the Christie clinic at the Royal Bolton Hospital last week, she felt "very reassured" by the medics.

She said: "I feel that everybody is looking out for me, which means I don't have to worry about it. With me, cancer could return at any time, even 20 or 30 years down the line, but this Herceptin is fantastic.

"It is the ultimate preventative measure.

"And to donate this money feels really good. I always wanted to give something back, but something significant, and thanks to everyone I have done that.

"I want people to know that their money will help a lot."

In total, £6,563 was raised which has been divided equally between Christie Hospital and Cancer Research UK.