Sheila from Cuckfield is dying of lung cancer but there is no trace of self-pity in her voice.

She wants to say a public thank you to relatives, friends and villagers who raised £7,500 to pay for a new drug, Tarceva, that helps to relieve the symptoms of lung cancer such as breathlessness, coughing and extreme tiredness.

Sheila went on the drug in October and her tumour shrank, enabling her to make long phone calls to friends and relatives without becoming too breathless to speak.

Five days before Christmas she visited her cancer specialist hoping Tarceva, which costs £70 per tablet, could be prescribed on the NHS. Instead, she was told the drug was no longer working.

Sheila said: "The cancer has decided to break loose so I have decided to come off the drug and let nature take its course."

Her niece Leanne Knapman spearheaded the fundraising drive in the village to raise money for the drug and Sheila is very grateful that she was able to benefit from it for three months before her cancer broke down its defences.

She said: "The support I have received has been utterly overwhelming. I live in South Street in the heart of the village and there have been cheques coming through my door. Even my grandchildren clubbed together and raised £70 between them - enough for one pill.

"I know I'm dying. I could have three weeks, three months or three years but I'm a positive person. I call my tumour 'it' - and me and 'it' are going to have a jolly good fight.

"My specialist has told me he could offer me another course of chemotherapy but it would give me about six to eight weeks more of life. When you're on chemotherapy you feel shivery, shakey and you can't concentrate, which is very, very horrible so I have decided to let nature take its course."

Before ending her telephone conversation I asked Sheila her age. She chuckled and said: "I'm 65 but I don't look it".

Wishing staff at the Mid Sussex Times a very happy New Year, she said: "I feel so grateful and humbled by the support of so many people. I am so privileged to have been here to experience the meaning of community spirit."