TRIBUTES have been paid to a courageous York mum who has died after fighting cancer three times.

Sally Deakin, 50, of Acomb, was first diagnosed with skin cancer in 1986, underwent treatment for breast cancer in 1996 and was diagnosed with ovarian cancer at the end of 2012.

She passed away peacefully at St Leonard's Hospice on May 19 with her husband Colin at her side.

Her family has paid tribute to Sally who was known for her positivity and dedication to her children Tom, 24, and Louise, 22, and was nominated as parent of the year in The Press Community Pride Awards in 2013.

Tom said: "Even when she was unwell she still managed to put me and Lou first and brought us up well. This time it was a lot harder because we understood.

"She'll be remembered for being a fighter. She was very loyal and she stood up for what she believed in.

"She would do anything for anybody."

Sally lived in York all her life, having been brought up in Acomb by parents Louis and Maureen with sister Kate and brother Gary She went to Poppleton Road Primary School and Lowfield School where she met her husband-to-be Colin.

They became a couple as teenagers and married in 1986 at St Paul's Church in Holgate.

Colin said: "She always had a smile on her face, right to the end. She will be remembered for her smile and for her kindness - she would do anything for anybody."

Colin said some of Sally's most cherished memories were bringing up her children and their holidays in Bedar in Spain.

Alongside bringing up her children Sally worked in a variety of different jobs - working as a doctor's receptionist, in a cafeteria and the Early Learning Centre.

The family took part in a Nidderdale charity walk on several occasions, raising money for charities in her honour - York Cancer Care Centre, York's oncology unit, York Against Cancer and St Leonard's Hospice.

Her daughter Louise said about her mum: "Everyone says she was inspirational. She was always smiling, she was an amazing woman.

"I have no idea how she did it but she kept her chin up and she was never down."

On June 6, Tom will be holding a 12 hour, 10am to to 10pm all-day work out at Crossfit Jorvik in Malton Road with a raffle and bbq in aid of the oncology unit. He has invited people to attend and donate.

- A celebration of Sally's life will be held at York Crematorium on Friday, June 5 at 1pm.