Hethersett teacher Rachel Cooke with some of the Kooky Cats she has made and is selling to raise money for Pancreatic Cancer UK. Photo: Steve Adams

A woman who lost her mum to pancreatic cancer is making it her mission to spread the word about the condition by creating colourful cats for charity.

Rachel Cooke, who lives in Deacon Drive, Hethersett, lost her mum, Sandra Banasick, to pancreatic cancer last year.

Miss Cooke, 28, who teaches at Bawburgh primary school, said: “My mum was told she had indigestion. She was 47 when she was diagnosed and she was fit and healthy.

“I was close to my mum, we spoke on the phone every night, even when I was away at uni. She died last year and she managed to fight it for 18 months.”

Her grandmother also had a tumour on her pancreas and was also told she was suffering from indigestion.

But now Miss Cooke, who lives with her boyfriend, Daniel Thompson, 29, a carpenter, and their cat, Harrison, is determined to raise awareness of pancreatic cancer, which is also known as the silent killer.

“My boyfriend’s parents bought me a sock cat kit last year. I made one for his mum and then I made a sock cat family for my friend who was expecting a baby and a few people said that they liked them. After the anniversary of my mum’s death I thought I had to do something and in June, I started making the cats,” Miss Cooke said.

She made 37 cats and took them to her school fair, expecting to sell around 10, but after an hour and a half, she had sold out.

Each cat costs around £5 and Miss Cooke has nearly raised £1,500. She is also hoping to run the London Marathon in 2014 in aid of Pancreatic Cancer UK.

“My mum had a two year battle so now I am setting my own two year challenge.

“My aim is to get people to talk about pancreatic cancer and November is pancreatic awareness,” Miss Cooke added.

To buy a cat, visit www.facebook.com/KookyCatsForPancreaticCancerUk

For more information see www.pancreaticcancer.org.uk