The family of Kay Hopkins, who battled cancer and also campaigned for the drugs she needed to be more widely available from the NHS, paid tribute to her bravery.

The inspirational great-grandmother and her family, friends and supporters took their battle to the very top of the British health system, delivering a petition to Downing Street.

Sadly she eventually died on 6 November, 2009, aged 71, but her family determined that the campaign she start should be her lasting legacy.

Her son Mark said: “She was not a selfish person and she was not looking after number one. She wanted everyone to have the same rights.”

Her other son Paul said: “She was straightforward and honest, straight-to-the-point. She always had a joke and she was always laughing.”

Kay was born in 1938 and attended Bagnall Infants School and Endon School.

After a short time working at the Michelin, she went into nursing, ultimately working as an elderly care nurse at hospitals including Westcliffe in Chell, Longton Cottage and Bradwell.

She retired at 60, but was asked to return by health bosses and went on to work for the NHS for a further eight years.

Kay and husband Paul met while dancing at the Majestic Ballroom in Hanley in the late 1950s.

They began married life in Weston Coyney, before moving on to High Lane in Burslem for 30 years and finally their last home in Willowcroft Way, Harriseahead.

http://www. thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/ news/Campaigner-Kay-just- wanted-treated-fairly/article- 1493766-detail/article.html [thisisstaffordshire.co.uk]