THE family of inspirational Barrhead mum Lesley Graham have told how a light in their lives has gone out after she lost her brave battle with breast cancer.

However, Lesley’s legacy will live on, thanks to her campaign which granted other sufferers access to a revolutionary drug.

The 40-year-old was told more than a year ago she was losing a fight against HER2 positive breast cancer, with doctors giving her between four and six months to live.

But Lesley was able to defy those medical expectations after winning a protracted dispute with NHS bosses over the right to be given access to £15,000-per-round Kadcyla treatment.

The dogged determination Lesley possessed meant the mother-of-two wasn’t prepared to let others accept ‘no’ for an answer.

She would go on to front the Unlock Kadcyla movement and force global pharmaceutical company Roche to reach a deal with the Scottish Medicines Consortium, offering others with incurable breast cancer a chance to spend more time with loved ones.

Last week, Lesley’s remarkable fight came to an end at ACCORD Hospice, in Paisley, where she had spent the last few weeks with husband Colin, 48, and daughters Charlotte, 15, and Rebekah, 12.

Colin spoke of his “immense pride” as he reflected on all that his wife achieved.

He told the Barrhead News: “She has helped a lot of people just by changing the way they think or the way they deal with doctors.

“Hopefully, the drug will remain available for the future and every woman in Scotland will have that back-up if the unthinkable does happen.

“The things we’ve been able to do in that extra six months Kadcyla gave us will live in my mind and our daughters’ minds for the rest of our lives.

“I’m immensely proud of her for everything she did and the way she conducted herself. She always had a grace.

“It started out she was fighting for her own survival but she made others realise just how stupid the system is.

“You can’t put a cost on someone’s life.”

Well-known across the nation due to her campaigning, Neilston-born Lesley was also a much-loved character locally.

Colin believes his wife’s popularity stemmed from her strong values and the time she made for others – as well as her wicked sense of humour.

He said: “She’s left notes about things that made her laugh and she left letters to myself and the two girls.

“Some of the things she wrote, the tears were streaming down your face.

“I miss her laughter. I miss her, the whole package.

“Her honesty, you couldn’t fault – you always knew where you stood with her. I’ll miss her being, her soul, her whole aura.”

Lesley’s funeral will take place at Woodside Crematorium, in Paisley, at 3pm tomorrow.

The service will be followed by a wake at Barrhead's Dalmeny Park House Hotel.

Before her death, Lesley made it clear she wanted her funeral to be a celebration of her life, in a bid to make the day as painless as possible for younger generations.

Those attending the funeral are asked to wear bright colours.

Colin said: “She didn’t want black, she didn’t want it to be doom and gloom.

“Lesley wanted it to be as bright as possible. She was thinking about others right to the end.”