SELFLESS Iris Billing, 42, has been crowned Tesco Magazine's national mum of the year, an award set up to recognise the country's most courageous and inspiring women.

Despite losing her daughter Tanya to cancer in 2005, Iris has worked tirelessly to improve the circumstances of others and provide much-needed support in their darkest hours.

Iris, of St Austell, was nominated by Tanya's doctor, Sophie Mepham, who felt she deserved the award due to her "courage, bravery and determination to help others."

When Tanya, 16, was diagnosed with a rare form of leukaemia, Iris was shocked to discover the lack of support for teenage cancer patients in their area.

Determined that Tanya would not face her ordeal alone, Iris gave up the comfort of her own bed to sleep on the hospital floor beside her daughter.

Together with her husband Eddie and her elder daughter Nicola, now 23, Iris did everything in her power to support Tanya, both emotionally and financially.

The situation worsened in late 2004 when the family lost their home and Iris lost her job.

Despite their problems, Iris remained strong for her daughter, who aspired to one day do something to help other young cancer sufferers.

But tragedy struck, and Tanya died in April, 2005. Through her devastation, Iris realised that she could fulfil Tanya's wishes by providing support for teenage cancer patients in Cornwall, and that same year she set up the charity Tanya's Courage.

Now entering its fourth year, Tanya's Courage has provided support to numerous young adults and their families.

Once a patient is referred to the charity, Iris will initially write them a cheque for £300 to assist the family, but she encourages them to come back if they need more help.

"We'll buy anything they need," said Iris.

"If it's equipment that's not covered on the NHS, then we'll fund it.

"We can help if they're struggling to pay a bill, or if they just want something nice to cheer them up.

"We recently offered a family a night in a hotel so that they could spend some quality time together."

Iris will do anything to ensure that other families are spared the hardship endured by her own family and as well as the financial support the charity provides, it also helps fulfil the wishes of its patients, arranging for one girl to meet singer James Morrison.

When she's not helping to run Tanya's Courage, raising money for the charity, or working as a patient discharge co-ordinator at the Royal Cornwall Hospital, Iris devotes herself to supporting the parents of cancer sufferers.

And while most people would say that she's achieved enough through her hard work and selfless attitude, Iris has further aspirations and hopes to one day open the first adolescent cancer unit in Cornwall.