IT was Christmas 2018, a time for family, friends and festive cheer.
Among the millions of Brits celebrating was beloved TV broadcaster Dianne Oxberry.
The 51-year-mum was surrounded by her loved ones, all of whom were blissfully unaware of the heartbreak that lay ahead.
On New Year’s Eve, the cherished BBC North West weather presenter received the devastating diagnosis of ovarian cancer.
Tragically, just 10 days later on January 10 2019, Dianne passed away at the Christie Hospital in Manchester.
Her symptoms were minimal, manifesting only as a tummy pain, according to The Mirror.
Her two young children and bereft husband Ian Hindle “miss her every day”, according to a post on the Dianne Oxberry Trust website – a charity set up by her family and friends.
There are about 7,400 new ovarian cancer cases in the UK every year, with almost six in 10 – like Dianne – diagnosed at a late stage.
This is because warning signs of ovarian cancer are often misdiagnosed as bowel problems like irritable bowel syndrome, or mental health disorders like stress and depression.
At this time there is no accurate way to identify the disease in its earliest stages.
We do have a very good cervical screening programme but this doesn’t detect ovarian cancer.
It is one of the most common types of cancer in women and although it mainly affects women over the age of 50 it can sometimes affect younger women.
According to figures from Ovarian Cancer Action, only three in 10 women diagnosed with ovarian cancer live beyond 10 years.
Early diagnosis is an incredibly important factor in improving those figures.
This Christmas, Dianne’s family and friends are trying to raise awareness of the disease and its symptoms, so others can get diagnosed earlier.
Eamonn O’Neal, chair of the Dianne Oxberry Trust and friend and broadcasting colleague of Dianne, said: “She was so cheeky and smiley with such an amazing sense of humour.
“Most of my memories of her are of us howling with laughter about one thing or another – often when we shouldn’t have been.
“She would love the cheeky side to this campaign and it would be brilliant to see lots of people in our region puckering up in her honour.
“Especially if Christmas preparations are peck-ing your head as much as the kissing puns I’ve been including!
The trust has already raised thousands in her memory to support the early diagnosis of ovarian cancer.
In November, last month, it launched a Merry Kiss-mas Christmas appeal, which it hopes will help raise much-needed funds whilst also helping to spread the word about the signs of ovarian cancer.
“This winter we’re asking people to say a big happy kiss-mas to the one they love,” Eamonn said.
“Whether that’s someone who knows you love them, someone you have loved and lost, or a mystery someone you would like to meet under the mistletoe this year.”
As part of the appeal, people can donate money on behalf of a loved one which will place a virtual kiss-mas bauble on Dianne’s virtual tree.
The money raised from the sale of the virtual baubles will fund vital campaigns to warn about the dangers of ovarian cancer.
Ovarian cancers affects the ovaries - the organs that store the eggs needed to make babies.
It mostly affects women over the age of 50 and can sometimes run in families, according to the NHS.
Symptoms of the cancer can be vague, particularly in its early stages, Cancer Research UK SAYS.
The charity advises you speak to a GP if you have the following symptoms:
The NHS added that bleeding from the vagina after the menopause could be another possible symptom of ovarian cancer.
