SHOCKED workers at a Keighley building firm are rallying round after a hugely popular colleague was diagnosed with a terminal brain tumour.

Lisa Cooney, 38, a mother of two young children, has been told the tumour is inoperable.

Now fellow employees at RN Wooler, in Lawkholme Lane, are planning a gruelling challenge to raise awareness and funds for a brain tumour charity.

"We were totally devastated when we learned about Lisa's condition and wanted to do something," said Alice Keinhorst, who works in the company's contracts department.

"Lisa is just such a genuinely lovely person who would do anything for anyone and is liked and respected by everybody."

About 20 colleagues will tackle the Yorkshire Three Peaks – Pen-y-ghent, Whernside and Ingleborough – on July 26, and together they hope to raise at least £1,000.

The money will go to Brain Tumour Research and Support across Yorkshire.

But the team also wants to make people more aware of the condition and its symptoms.

Lisa, who has worked in reception at Wooler for the past three years, started suffering from headaches before last Christmas.

When they became more constant earlier this year she visited her opticians, fearing the problem may be sight-related.

"They said my peripheral vision wasn't good and that they would send a note to my GP but I had a strange feeling about it and went to my doctors anyway," she said.

Lisa was sent by her GP for a CT scan at Airedale Hospital in early March, and after an abnormality was found was referred back for an MRI examination.

"Within a few days I received a phone call and went to Leeds General Infirmary for the results – they told me it was a brain tumour and that because of its position they couldn't do anything about it," she said.

"I was completely gutted. I just didn't expect that at all.

"I've always been perfectly healthy, never had any problems.

"A biopsy was carried out and I was told the tumour is grade three on a scale of one to four, with four being the most serious.

"Apparently there's nothing I could have done to prevent it, and seemingly it tends to affect men more than women."

Lisa – who has a daughter, Neve, 10, and a five-year-old son, James – has just completed a seven-week course of radiotherapy and chemotherapy at St James' Hospital, in Leeds.

She will have another MRI scan on July 21.

"It will then be decided from there what will happen next," said Lisa, who is married to 41-year-old heating engineer, Scott.

"I don't want to know how long I might have and I haven't asked.

"I feel OK at the moment."

Anyone wishing to support the Three Peaks walk can go to the team's justgiving web page at justgiving.com/RNWooler/ or contact Mrs Keinhorst on 01535 691699.

The team would also like to hear from anybody interested in joining the walkers.