SHE was a young woman with everything to live for.

Sarah Perry was a highly respected civilian member of Gwent Police, an excellent gymnast who formerly represented Wales and Britain, and a beloved daughter.

But today her devastated family and friends were gathering to say a final farewell, after Sarah lost her two-year battle with breast cancer and died aged just 26.

Sarah, of Chester Close, New Inn, near Pontypool endured operations, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and spells in Cardiff's Velindre Hospital before finally losing her brave fight earlier this month.

Sarah loved her job with Gwent police, where she worked as a civilian major crimes analyst.

Just before her death she was awarded the Chief Constable's Commendation for outstanding work on a murder inquiry. Sadly she was too ill to accept the award.

As a schoolgirl at Griffithstown Junior School and then West Mon Comprehensive, she was a keen gymnast who represented Wales and Britain and featured in the Argus on a number of occasions. At the age of twelve she became Under-13s British School Tumbling Champion.

Speaking from their home in Griffithstown, Sarah's parents said their determined daughter was happy and smiling, right up until the end. Mum Pauline, 58, said: "When we found out she was diagnosed with breast cancer we were devastated. She was so young. But it never got her down. Sarah was always happy and smiling. Her worst worry was me and her dad. She was very concerned that it would ruin our lives.

"She always had a smile even when she was very ill. She was very seriously ill but she would say she was feeling OK. She lived such a healthy life. Her friends are so shocked that someone so young and fit could die of breast cancer."

Sarah first discovered a lump on her left breast in 2001, just six months into starting her new job with Gwent police.

She previously worked for law firm Everett Tomlin Lloyd and Pratt and at Newport Crown Court.

Pauline said: "She loved working for the police and really enjoyed the work. She loved the job, it was her life. She thought it was challenging. She was only in it six months before she fell ill."

Dad Alan, 60, who works for Burton's Biscuits in Llantarnam, added: "She went to the doctor's and they said it was only minor and to watch it. She went on holiday abroad for two weeks and when she returned it was huge - the size of a golf ball. She had radiotherapy and chemotherapy and an operation to remove the lump. They treated it aggressively because she was so young she could handle the treatment better."

Her mum added: "She didn't like losing her hair but it grew back quickly. The funny thing was that when her hair did grow back it was curly. All her life she'd had straight hair."

Sarah was in remission for a year but the cancer returned even more strongly.

Alan said: "In the beginning she wasn't suffering much, but when it came back she was ill straight away. It affected her sight and she went blind in one eye. This time the goalposts just kept getting further and further away and it didn't seem like she was getting any better. It was a no win situation. We never gave up, though. We were always hoping.

"I felt angry as well and kept thinking why her? Why my daughter? I still feel angry now about it. Not with anybody in particular, but with the hopelessness of it."

Pauline added: "Just when we thought she was getting on top of it she would get worse. Cancer has no respect for age. But Sarah was marvellous from the word go. She would say I want to be Sarah again, not Sarah with cancer.

"She was great all the way through her illness. She was always calm. When people came to visit they never went away feeling it was a house of mourning. She was always laughing and joking."

Sarah was the youngest of four children, David, 35, and Mark, 33, who are both teachers, and Stephen 31, a solicitor, and she idolised her nephew Joe, two, and nieces Issy, five, Hope, three, Rhian, one, and Georgie, 10 months.

She said: "She loved them so much. I think she knew she was not going to be able to have children even if she got over the cancer because of the aggressive treatment."

Sarah had been in Velindre for a week when she took a turn for the worst. Sarah died on August 18 peacefully in her sleep with both parents at her bedside.

Alan said: "We have got to be thankful that we were both there at the end. "We were both devastated. I keep wanting to see her. As the time wore in we saw her in so much pain and we knew she wasn't going to get better. We were fortunate that the end was peaceful."

Sarah's funeral was taking place today at St Hilda's Church, Griffithstown, before a cremation at Gwent Crematorium. Hundreds were expected to attend the service, including large numbers of police officers from across Gwent with whom Sarah worked.

Former colleague and close friend Detective Constable Wendy Keepin paid tribute to "one of the nicest people" she knew.

"She was always smiling through her illness and was a real inspiration to us all," she said.

"She lived for her job and her family."