THE funeral service of cancer victim Kirsty Winstanley is expected to attract large crowds on Wednesday.

Two white horses will lead a carriage carrying her coffin to St Andrews Church, Dentons Green Lane for a service that starts at 12.30pm (September 9).

The devoted mother’s dying plea for the cervical cancer screening age to be lowered has won support from many Star readers.

Just hours after Kirsty Winstanley’s demand was made public last month she passed away.

Her beloved husband, David, read her the heartbreaking story that featured on the front page of the St Helens Star to make clear her dying wish had been heard.

Surrounded by her family, the mother of four-year-old Aiden died just hours later at the age of only 23.

David believes that knowing her calls for a change had been made public meant she could pass away in peace.

He also vowed that along with family and friends he will continue to push for NHS chiefs in England to change the rules so that the screening age is reduced from 25 to 20.

David, 27, said: “Kirsty was determined that the message gets out there. I think once we read the story to her, she was at peace and she was ready to go.

“She wants the age lowering and that girls aged 18 or 20 can go to GPs and ask for a smear test if they have concerns.

“If Kirsty had be screened at 20 it may not have saved her. But it may have helped. It was a similar situation to Jade Goody – and Kirsty fully backed what she campaigned for.

“She wanted to do more to campaign, but we didn’t realise how little time she had left.”

Former plasterer David plans to petition the Government to reduce the screening age in England from 25 to 20, as it is in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Kirsty believed the change would save lives, though a panel of experts ruled differently earlier this year.

Ex-Rainhill High pupil Kirsty (nee Atherton) was diagnosed with cancer last October. After she underwent surgery and chemotherapy, doctors said the disease had gone into remission.

Sadly though, the illness returned and she deteriorated rapidly. David will now become the sole carer for their four-year-old son Aiden, who suffers from PKU disorder, a condition, which means his body cannot break down protein and can cause problems with brain development.

Kirsty’s tragedy echoes that of reality TV star Jade, who died in March after her own fight against cervical cancer.

A high profile campaign was launched after her death that called for the screening age to be lowered.

However, in June the panel of medical experts decided not to call for a reduction in the age claiming it would cause more problems.

Screening programmes are designed to spot pre-cancerous changes in the neck of the womb.

It is believed around 4,500 lives are saved every year through these interventions to prevent cancer developing.

Experts against lowering the screening age believe that the cervix of women under 25 is immature and changing.

They believe there is a risk that their cells under a microscope may look abnormal when they are not, exposing them to the trauma or further tests and biopsies.

However, in Scotland screening has taken place of woman aged 20-60 every three years for the past two decades.

A Scottish Government spokeswoman described the programme as very successful, adding: “In addition to detecting cancers, another very important aim of the programme is to detect pre-cancerous abnormalities at an early stage.

“The programme’s age range was reviewed by our National Advisory Group on Breast and Cervical Screening in 2005.

“The group’s advice at the time was to maintain the current age range and frequency but to review again in 2010, when any new published evidence will be taken into account.”

However, a recently published study in the British Medical Journal found cervical screening in women aged 20-24 has little or no impact on rates of invasive cervical cancer up to age 30.

Meanwhile, Kirsty’s family has expressed thanks to district nurses and MaCrae Medical Centre in Rainford for their care.

Anyone is invited to attend this week's funeral, they add. Donations can be made to Willowbrook Hospice.

MOVING tributes were paid to Kirsty on the St Helens Star’s website when news of her death emerged last week.

Her parents wrote: “Kirsty was our very brave little daughter, sister who will be remembered as a caring, thoughtful and courageous young woman, who fought this terrible illness at every corner despite numerous set backs.

“She continued to fight the battle hiding her pain whilst attempting to smile, but lost the battle peacefully last night surrounded by family and friends. She will forever be in our hearts and minds.”

Kirsty was inspirational to all involved in her care. Her courage was outstanding. She was surrounded by love and deserved so much more. Rest in peace Kirsty. I have learned so much from you.

We will carry on Kirsty's quest to lower the age of cervical smears from 25 to 20. Hoping to prevent this happening to somebody else's daughter, mother or sister in the future.

Her nephew Benjamin Atherton contacted the Star with his own touching tribute: “I will always remember Kirsty as the happy, lovely, kind person that she is. She is very special to me because she is my auntie.

“I have always loved her and I will forever and ever. I feel very sad for Aiden her little boy, whenever I see him I play with him, he makes me laugh! Kirsty is very special to all of us and she will always be a part of my heart.

“My family has been spending lots of time with Kirsty for the last few months, she has been amazing. It will be tough for us all, but most of all my heart hurts for Aiden. We all love you so much Kirsty XXX !!!”

Emac from Rainford wrote: “Kirsty was inspirational to all involved in her care. Her courage was outstanding.

“She was surrounded by love and deserved so much more. Rest in peace Kirsty. I have learned so much from you.”