An inspirational woman from Helston who faced stage four cancer with determination and good humour has been described as a "lioness" by her three children, as they paid tribute after she lost her battle with the disease.

Clair Leppington (Day), a food technology teacher at Helston Community College for 15 years, passed away peacefully in her sleep last Thursday, at the age of just 48. She was at home, surrounded by her family and loved ones.

Her passing comes after a 13-month battle with stage four bowel cancer – but how she approached her diagnosis and the time after it inspired all who met her.

Within a few months she had raised thousands of pounds for Bowel Cancer UK and Your Voice Cornwall, after shaving her hair off before chemotherapy could get to it.

Given six months to live she went on to double that, and at the start of August she marked one year since her diagnosis.

Writing at the time, she joked: "My son said that I was allowed to be like the Queen and have two birthdays, so today is now officially my regal birthday.

"I wouldn’t be here today without the support of my children and amazing friends and family (both near and far) and I thank you all and have so much love for you all. It is you guys who keep me going and show me so much love, I am so lucky."

 

Clair with her three children, pictured in 2008/2009

Clair with her three children, pictured in 2008/2009

 

Her three children, Jake, Sadie and Serena, praised the "amazing care" from her oncologist and team at The Sunrise Centre, in the Lowen Ward at the Royal Cornwall Hospital, at St Julia's Hospice in Hayle, and the district nurses team in Helston.

Paying tribute to their mum, they said: "She was a lioness; our protector, and our provider. She would always make sure we were well looked after and would find a silver lining in anything!

"She’d give us the best advice and would be open and honest. She would look for the good in anything and anyone. She was just amazing."

Clair was born in Leicester on November 3, 1973, but at the tender age of just six weeks old she crossed the equator, and grew up in Zambia until the age of three.

She then returned to Leicester, before moving to Cockermouth with her dad, where she stayed until she left for university to study fashion and textiles at De Montfort, Leicester.

Clair moved to Cornwall in 2005 and started teaching at Helston Community College in 2007, initially covering maternity leave before being given a permanent contract in 2009 and made head of faculty in 2011.

She joined the Culdroses Military Wives Choir in 2013, and members of the choir will be singing at her funeral this Monday, October 3.

 

Clair with fellow members of the Culdroses Military Wives Choir

Clair with fellow members of the Culdroses Military Wives Choir

 

The service will take place at 1.30pm, at St Michael's Church in Helston, which is open to anyone wants to say a final farewell.

This will be followed by a committal for the family only.

Afterwards, people are invited to celebrate her life at the Wheal Dream, with her children saying: "Clair’s wishes were that everyone joined us at her celebration of life, for a party so good she would be jealous she wasn’t there."

Mourners are asked to wear colour rather than black, as per Clair's wishes.

There will be family flowers only, but collections are being taken for two charities. The first is St Julia’s Hospice, because of their tremendous care and love during her last weeks, which allowed her to build the strength to come home to her family.

The second charity being supported is Your Voice Cornwall, due to its tireless effort to support women’s mental health in Cornwall – something close to Clair's heart. Donations can be made via https://clairleppingtonday.muchloved.com/

There will be a live link to watch the service remotely for anyone unable to get there in person, via https://youtu.be/RFpRM55C0OE

Clair's passing has prompted numerous tributes, with the Culdroses Military Wives Choir, saying: "Clair faced a gruelling and painful battle with cancer yet continued to sing vivaciously and smile brightly; her strength inspired us all to find the sunshine in every day."

Lisa Marie Torbett and the staff at Minnie's Hair Studio, who knew Clair well and performed the Brave the Shave on her last November, described her as a "truly incredible, inspiring woman to know", while Your Voice Cornwall said: "It's such a cliche to say someone is 'brave' and 'inspirational' but honestly, she really and truly was. She was also the kindest soul you could ever met.

"There was no end to her generosity and I can say with all the confidence in the world that Clair will have shaped so many lives."