Young footballers touched by the plight of a cancer victim from their Oxford estate organised a sponsored run yesterday to pay for her to have a weekend away with her husband.

Tracy Smith, from Blackbird Leys, was surprised when she heard that the Leys Unity under-15 football team had organised the event.

She was diagnosed with aggressive breast cancer in March and was due to undergo a double mastectomy operation today.

The 35-year-old, who lives in Trefoil Place with husband Simon, daughters Amy, 13, Lydia, two, and son Tom, 11, said: "I only just found out they were doing it and I was quite shocked. There are a lot of people worse off than me.

"It's really nice that they did this for me.

"It's good for Blackbird Leys and shows that it's a nice community."

She said she could not wait to spend a weekend away with Simon, as they had not had any spare time together since she her illness diagnosed. They plan to go away once she is well enough after the operation.

She added: "I'm overwhelmed that they have done this for me. It's very thoughtful.

"I don't know where we will go yet, but I'm looking forward to spending some time together."

She added: "The day I found out I had cancer I just accepted it straight away and was glad it wasn't one of my children.

"Amy did the Cancer Research UK Race for Life this year with a friend and I want to do it next year.

"I want to do something like swim the English Channel for charity. I've got to do something."