THE winner of the 2011 Cumbria Women of the Year award is BBC Radio Cumbria presenter Val Armstrong.

Val was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2006 and is now in recovery. She has spoken honestly about her experiences and used her public profile to help launch the information service for Macmillan Cancer Support.

And just five weeks after her second mastectomy last May, she joined in the 650-mile, all-female motorbike ride, the 2011 Breast Way Round, to raise money for Macmillan.

She recently became the face of a new Be Clear On Cancer campaign that urges people to get to know the signs and act on them.

She said: “Both of my cancers were caught at early stages. It gives the professional people a better chance of getting rid of it for you.”

Jan Hawkins, 68, of Penrith, was awarded the lifetime achievement award. Since 2004, she has raised £12 million to keep the Pride of Cumbria Air Ambulance in the air and has never been paid for her work or taken expenses.

Other nominees included Gillian Johnston, Hospice at Home West Cumbria fund-raiser, who was nominated because she had “brought a breath of fresh air” to the fundraising committee.

Gillian, of Whitehaven, is responsible for the charity’s successful midnight walks, annual brides’ ball and Santa Dash, which bring in thousands of pounds for the hospice.

Marion Cowper, 77, of Whitehaven, was also nominated. She has taught dancing in West Cumbria for decades. The Cowper School of Dance was established in 1871 by her grandfather and has produced many professional dancers.

It is now run by her daughter Adrienne, but Marion plays an active role as well as fundraising for local charities.