A PERMANENT memorial has been dedicated to a mother-of-one and hospital worker who died last year.

Jennifer Chilver, hospital supervisor at The James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2012 and passed away on July 12, 2018.

Mrs Chilver, who had worked at the hospital for 15 years, had been an active member of a breast care support group, before her diagnosis.

Almost one year after her death, family, friends and colleagues came together at the hospital to plant the tree in memory of a "much-loved" woman.

Darlington and Stockton Times:

Mrs Chilver’s step-grandson Brodey left, with his mother Samantha Chilver, who also attended the tree planting ceremony

At the tree planting ceremony, husband, Steven and son, Ryan, watched as the tree was planted on hospital grounds.

Steven Chilver, who met Mrs Chilver at the hospital, said: “We met when I joined the team 12 years ago – her job was very important to her and she worked right up until a few weeks before she died.

“Jenny was such a determined character once she put her mind to something no one could talk her out of it.”

Despite suffering from further illness that had stemmed from the cancer, the mother-of-one continued fundraising for charity.

Mr Chilver said: “One of the side effects of her ongoing treatment meant that her bones became hollowed out and weakened, both legs eventually breaking in separate incidents.

“Yet she still continued with a number of fund raising challenges including Race4Life at Ormesby Hall in 2013 which she was determined to complete without crutches.”

In May 2017, Mrs Chilver completed a 7-and-a-half mile walk from Great Ayton to Roseberry Topping in North Yorkshire.

“She knew I was concerned about undertaking the Roseberry Topping walk when she was so ill, so she didn’t tell me she was doing it and I received a photo with the message ‘guess where I am?’ when she got to the top.”

Mr Chilver added: “It’s been very hard losing Jennifer, but the support we received from the staff has been outstanding.

"When things got really bad, we were supported by our colleagues who often arranged short breaks away, when she had breaks in her treatment so that we could spend precious quality time as a family.

"We're so grateful for the everyone's support."