Heartbroken friends and family of a brave young woman killed by cancer two days after her birthday have vowed to fight the disease.

Islington Gazette: Brave: Keeley was laughing and smiling all the way through her illnessBrave: Keeley was laughing and smiling all the way through her illness (Image: Archant)

Keeley Mulvey, of Caldy Walk, Canonbury, had just turned 24 when she died from neuroendocrine cancer - only 12 months after first being diagnosed.

Her family, and boyfriend of seven years, could hardly find any information about the little known strain of the disease, so grieving colleagues at City Sprint Couriers, in Shoreditch, have put together a week of fundraising for the Net Foundation - the one charity who were able to offer help and information.

Marie Sparks, 46, Keeley’s mum, said: “It was really terrible.

“All she had to start with was this cough.

“Then to be told it was something like cancer, and one so rare only a couple of people get it every year, was shattering.

“We couldn’t believe it. And not to have anything to read up on was awful.

“All the way though her illness she was so happy, laughing and smiling, as if she wasn’t unwell.

“Even the doctor said ‘I can’t believe it’. She was just trying to get on with her life. She was so brave.”

From Monday, the City Sprint week of fundraising kicks off, with bingo and a baby competition, culminating in a raffle on Friday where a football signed by David Beckham is among the prizes.

Sharon Gyseman, who used to sit next to Keeley at school, said: “She was a fantastic girl, A really girly girl. Everything had to be pink with her.

“I never heard her say a bad word about anyone.

“She was a healthy girl, she didn’t drink a lot, never smoked, she wasn’t overweight.

“But she got this cough, and she couldn’t shift it.

“Eventually they found it was cancer. A year later she was dead.

“The Net Foundation really helped her and her family. But it’s such a rare form of cancer they get no government funding or anything. They need money to do more research. I had breast cancer and if it’s wasn’t for that one person starting the awareness and research for that, I wouldn’t be here now.”

Chris Belyyavin, fundraising officer for the Net Foundation, said: “Because neuroendocrine cancer is so rare it often gets misdiagnosed, so we want to help increase awareness and organise training programmes for health professionals.

“We are really pleased City Sprint have chosen to support us with their fundraising.”