IAN Wood read out a poem called She Is Gone as he prepared to say farewell to his best friend and wife of 20 years.

He drew strength from the words, written by David Harkins: "You can close your eyes and hope that she'll come back, Or you can open your eyes and see all that she has left."

Margaret, a mum-of-two, died when she was 50, just six months after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, one of the so-called "silent killers".

Doctors said it was unusual for someone as young as Margaret to develop the disease, as it mainly affects people in their 70s, and more men than women.

Her death has left a terrible void in the lives of Ian and their two daughters Nicole, 20, and Emma, 18.

Knowing she didn't have long to live, the brave mum advised her daughters to "keep doing what they are doing and to stay away from sunbeds."

Just days after her death, the family began fundraising for cancer charity Macmillan, which provided constant support through Margaret's illness.

They raised an incredible £14,000, which the charity said is the biggest donation the Glasgow branch had received from one family.

Ian, 47, from Newton Mearns, in East Renfrewshire, said: "The charity was incredible."

The couple were on a break to London in July last year when Margaret, who worked as a catering assistant at Crookfur Primary School, complained of feeling tired.

Ian, a joiner, said: "She said she wanted to lie down. I remember thinking it was really unusual but I didn't think anything of it.

"Then she kept complaining about heartburn. Eventually she went to the doctor because it wasn't going away.

A camera showed Margaret had a tumour in her pancreas. It had spread to her stomach, ruling out surgery.

Doctors say most cases are discovered too late for life-saving treatment.

Ian said: "It was such a shock. It had come totally out of the blue.

"Surgery wasn't an option. There was nothing they could do.

"You could see her getting everything in order, She wanted to make sure the mortgage was paid, the insurance paid out that the kids were sorted."

Nicole, 20, who is studying criminal justice, said: "She said to us, just keep doing what you are doing."

Emma, 18, a care home worker, said: "She told me not to use sunbeds. It hasn't really sunk in yet."

Margaret was given a year to live by doctors and the couple put together a wish list of things they wanted to do together including a night in One Devonshire Hotel in Glasgow and a trip to London, Margaret's favourite city.

Sadly they didn't manage to fulfil all of Margaret's wishes, and she died on April 27, in Ian's arms, surrounded by close family.

Ian said: "You always think it won't be now, I can say goodbye tomorrow, but we had talked about everything in the months before she died.

"Margaret had a very bubbly personality. She was very likeable and very honest.

"We were very much family oriented. The children were grown up. We were looking forward to starting our own lives."

The disease has recently been highlighted in Coronation Street, with character Hayley Cropper having the same diagnosis.

Ian said: "Most people suffer from heartburn, you don't think it's something serious. Hopefully we can help raise a bit of awareness."

A fundraising page has been set up for Macmillian in memory of Margaret. To donate go to http://macmillan.tributefunds.com/MargaretWood

caroline.wilson@eveningtimes.co.uk