AN inspiring fund-raiser and Royal Navy Petty Officer described as a 'treasured' colleague at HMS Raleigh, has passed away peacefully at home in Torpoint after a nine-year battle against cancer.

Laura Washer, who was 35, was a committed fundraiser who used her own experience of cancer as the momentum to raise money to help others.

Her first fundraising campaign raised more than £14,000 for the charity Breakthrough Breast Cancer. After treatment at Derriford Hospital's Plymouth oncology unit, Laura saw how starved of funds the unit was, and in 2011 co-founded the fundraising group Pals of POOCH' (Plymouth Oncology Outpatients and CHemotherapy).

The aim of the charity was to raise money to buy equipment or fund refurbishments deemed necessary by the unit's staff. By setting up the charity, Laura ensured money stayed in Plymouth to benefit people from the city and from East Cornwall. Since it was founded, Pals of POOCH has raised more than £18,000.

Laura continued in the Royal Navy and was latterly stationed at HMS Raleigh. Her commanding officer, Captain Bob Fancy, said: 'PO Washer was a highly-valued member of the Royal Navy and treasured by HMS Raleigh, where she had many friends. She truly epitomised the Naval core values of courage, discipline, selfless commitment, loyalty, integrity and respect for others.

'Her strength in coping with her illness was exceptional,' he continued.

'She was determined to keep working as much as possible and had an amazing ability to inspire others to raise money for her causes. Her loss at such a young age is truly tragic and our thoughts and sympathies are with her husband Jonathan her parents Linda and Norman and her wider family and friends.'

A memorial service for Laura was due to be held at St Paul's Church, HMS Raleigh, yesterday (Thursday). The family had asked that donations should still be made to Pals of POOCH at http://www.just">www.just giving.com/pals

ofpooch.