A HEARTFELT family tribute has been paid to a selfless campaigner who fought till the end to raise awareness of ovarian cancer as she battled the disease herself.

Gill Harler from Weymouth worked tirelessly to raise awareness of the condition she suffered from and was a constant source of support for others.

Husband Anton described her as a "determined lady" who was "always thinking of others before herself".

He said Gill's mission to raise awareness of the symptoms of ovarian cancer stemmed from her own experiences, which showed that many women and even some medical professionals struggle to detect the signs of the disease.

He said Gill was misdiagnosed herself for around three years and it was only because she had a friend who was a gynaecologist who suggested a scan that led to the condition being picked up in April 2011.

Despite battling the disease for nearly six years, Gill never ceased in her efforts to raise awareness of the condition and spread the message of the symptoms so that more women are diagnosed earlier and therefore stand a better chance of survival.

To do this she designed a card in the shape of a little handbag that lists the symptoms of ovarian cancer and can easily be fitted into women's handbags or purses.

The cards are distributed through the Gill Harler Fund, which has now become a registered charity, and as well as being put in doctors surgeries across Dorset they have also been sent to people around the country and even across the globe including New Zealand, Australia, Canada and America.

Anton said: "She was really passionate about getting women to understand their bodies that's why she produced these awareness cards."

Her daughter Karen Symons added: "In many ways this campaign was something I truly believe kept mum going for longer because she wanted to see this come to fruition."

Anton said one of the last things on Gill's bucket list was to see a film made for youngsters in senior schools to raise awareness of the condition and this was something that was in progress.

Gill supported other women facing ovarian cancer far and wide, either by getting together with them at her home or offering advice online.

Karen said one young women in her twenties who lives far away turned to Gill for support online after being diagnosed at a very young age. She said Gill became her 'cancer mummy' and the young lady recently drove all the way down to Weymouth to see her in person.

A former teacher, Gill met Anton 50 years ago and they have two children - Karen and son Martyn who lives in Switzerland.

Karen said the family had been touched by the amount of people who have contacted them with kind words about Gill since she passed away last Friday night at the age of 67 and it has shown them just how many people she had made an impression on.

Gill's campaigning efforts brought her national attention in October last year when she was named one of the Inspirational Women of the Year on television show Lorraine.

She was also interviewed for ITV Westcountry News just weeks before her death to speak out and raise awareness of ovarian cancer.

Anton said that Gill, who was also a keen supporter of the Weldmar Hospicecare Trust and spoke at a number of events, had done so much to raise the profile of ovarian cancer both locally and nationally despite fighting her own health battle.

He said: "What she's achieved is marvellous and we are very proud of her.”

Karen will continue the Gill Harler Fund to carry on raising awareness of ovarian cancer in her mum’s memory.

Gill's funeral is being held at Weymouth Crematorium from 1.45pm on Friday, March 17.

Donations can be made to the Gill Harler Fund and Weldmar Hospicecare Trust in her memory at www.rose-funeral.co.uk