AT the age of 13, Suzy Bedingham suffered a devastating blow when she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer.

The disease, which rarely strikes women so young, led to one of her ovaries being removed and extensive chemotherapy which could have left her infertile.

But nearly 20 years on, Suzy is a healthy, happy mum-of-two - thanks to a doctor at York Hospital who spotted her condition and saved her life.

Now Suzy, is supporting the Evening Press' Guardian Angels campaign to raise money for a high-dependency children's unit at the hospital.

She said: "If it wasn't for the doctor who spotted my cancer and referred me straight away, I wouldn't be alive today.

"It was a hard thing to go through so young, but the help I received from the health service was excellent. The Guardian Angels appeal is really worthwhile and will help save many more children's lives."

The 32-year-old was among a group of fundraisers who collected £317 for the appeal by holding a pub crawl in memory of 20-year-old Natalie Strickson, who died suddenly of a heart condition.

Suzy, of Rawcliffe Avenue, York, who married husband, Steve, 29, four years ago, hardly realised the seriousness of her condition back in 1986.

"I had been feeling tired and suffering stomach aches for a while," she said. "But one day I was doubled up in agony and was rushed to York Hospital with suspected appendicitis. A doctor felt my stomach and discovered the tumour straight away.

"I was transferred to St James' Hospital in Leeds and had my operation three days later. It was a 7lb tumour and if the doctor hadn't diagnosed it, I wouldn't have survived."

Suzy, whose maiden name was Battams, spent the next six months receiving chemotherapy and returned for regular outpatients' appointments while she battled against the cancer for the next five years, supported by her parents, Alan and Denise.

As a teenager living in Easingwold, she fundraised with her family for the charity Candlelighters, which launched a £500,000 appeal for research into children's cancers at St James's Hospital.

"My cancer was really rare and they still don't know how it happened.

"It could have been there from when I was born or it could have grown over a period. That's why research is vital," she said.

"I still go to the oncology unit every two years for checks ups and doctors monitor me so they can learn what the effects may be on children with the condition now."

Suzy, a secretary at Selby and York Primary Care Trust, began worrying about her ability to bear children as she entered her late teens and when she met Stephen, an IT specialist, he was keen to try for a family.

"Amazingly I fell pregnant within six months of trying and I was so thrilled to know I could have children," she said.

"It meant the chemotherapy had not damaged my remaining ovary and then, two years later, I was pregnant again."

But Suzy has another reason to thank York Hospital for, after her son, Jack, was born with a hernia, which was diagnosed at an outpatients' clinic and he was referred for an operation.

"He is fine now and so am I," said Suzy. "I'm pleased to support the appeal and I hope it will help many others in future."

Updated: 10:45 Thursday, January 26, 2006