HUDDERSFIELD cancer charity founder Jacquie Roeder has won an award in a national Mum of the Year competition.

Mrs Roeder, 60, received the Judges' Award in the 2007 Tesco Magazine's contest.

She got the award for her work in setting up the Laura Crane Trust, in memory of her daughter, who died in 1996 aged just 17 of a complex mix of cancers.

The trust, which has so far raised £750,000, was set up five months after Laura's death.

It pays for research into cancers affecting 13 to 25-year-olds.

It also provides facilities to make hospital life easier for young cancer sufferers.

Mrs Roeder said she had no idea who nominated her but was delighted to have won an award.

She said: "I am absolutely amazed to be a winner. It's a bit breathtaking.

"I don't think I am at all special. My dad always said that if a thing's worth doing it's worth doing right. I do enjoy a challenge.

"It's not about being special. It's just about having a nature like a terrier with a bone."

Mrs Roeder, who gave up her career as a primary school teacher to set up the charity, said she hoped winning the award would help to raise its profile further.

She said: "I naturally hope this will draw increased attention to the Laura Crane Trust and help to further raise its national profile."

Mrs Roeder received the Judges Award after a decision by a panel including GMTV presenter Kate Garraway, Channel 5 presenter Matthew Wright and Dawn Alford, editor of Tesco Magazine.

She was presented with her award at a glamorous reception at the Waldorf Hilton Hotel in London yesterday.

She and the other winners received a professional makeover and a holiday from the awards sponsor, travel company Cosmos.

In her acceptance speech Mrs Roeder thanked those people who had supported her and the charity - including husband Malcolm and sons Patrick, 34, and Dan, 32.

She said: "I thank my husband and family for their patience and unswerving support, my close friends and charity trustees, my staff and all the many, many people who have helped Laura's trust to grow so fast."

Now that the trust is established Mrs Roeder, of Edgerton, hopes to cut back her work slightly so she can spend time with family.

She became a grandmother twice last year.

Patrick and his girlfriend, Lita, who live in San Francisco, had their first child, a son, Santiago, last September.

Dan and his partner, Clare, had a baby girl, Isabel, in November.

Clare already had a daughter, six-year-old Georgia.

Mrs Roeder said: "I want to increase the number of hours in a day so that I can spend more time with my grandchildren!"

Mrs Roeder and the other Mum of the Year award winners attended a reception at 11 Downing Street today with Chancellor Gordon Brown's wife, Sarah.