A woman who found ways to stop her hair falling out during gruelling chemotherapy has left a legacy to help other patients through the same tough times.

Christine Ball was a patient at Darent Valley Hospital, Dartford, but after a nine-year battle with breast cancer, she passed away on February 13, 2020.

Now her family has raised more than £11,000 for innovative scalp-cooling technology for other patients.

Husband John Ball said: "On March 21, 2021, my wife Christine would have celebrated her 60th birthday and although a milestone she never wanted to talk about – or to arrive – she came to terms with the fast-approaching date.

"We began making plans and looking forward to a long and happy retirement together and spending loads of time with our boys, girls, and grandchildren.

"Our plans changed when Chris was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2011.

"We did not know much about cancer, we did not know exactly what it would mean or where it would take us but when I went with Chris to attend her first oncologist appointment and have that first real discussion around what her cancer treatment would involve, she was told that she would lose her hair.

"Those who knew Chris, saw how brave she was and how her strength became a strength to us all, also knew that she always wanted to look her best.

"Chris finally accepted the inevitable and she bravely prepared to attend the first stage of six chemotherapy treatments. But before her first, she read of a procedure that may help her keep her hair.

"She read that scalp cooling was proven to be an effective way of combating hair loss and could result in a high level of retention or completely preserve the hair.

"For Chris this meant an opportunity to regain some self-control, maintain her looks, and have a more positive attitude towards her treatment."

Throughout her fight, the 58-year-old used scalp cooling, and never lost her hair.

While in hospital, the couple, of Sutton-at-Hone, Dartford, would talk about how when Chris was in remission they would look to raise awareness and raise funds to purchase machines for others.

John added: "She thought that her experience would provide comfort and give confidence to others in undergoing the procedure."

After her passing, the Ball family decided to hold a series of fundraising events to buy a double scalp-cooling machine for use in the Pine Therapy Unit at Darent Valley in her memory.

Throughout 2021 and 2022 – which would have been Christine's 60th year – they completed a 370-mile virtual bike ride to Maryport in Cumbria where she was born, a cupcake sale, a charity day, head shave, sponsored runs and a ball.

They raised around £14,000 which was enough to buy a double Paxman Cold Cap Machine, with a configuration of caps and accessories. The remaining funds will be donated to the ellenor Hospice in Northfleet, which also supported the family.

John said: "We could not have done this without people being so kind and generous, with both their donations and time, those who helped in making the events such a success and those who helped organise and attend them – we will never be able to thank them enough.

"We knew that this is something that Chris would have liked, as using scalp cooling became just another part of her treatment."

The technology will help others who want to try to reduce or prevent their hair loss ahead of chemotherapy treatment.

A spokesman for the trust and Valley Hospital charity said: "We would like to say thank you once again to John and his family whose generosity and determination will greatly help patients with cancer."