DONNA Taylor was a true inspiration to others and above all a fighter who even gave cancer a run for its money.
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Hundreds of mourners gathered at Doveton Park Funeral Centre today to farewell Donna, who touched many lives by openly and honestly sharing her courageous battle with cervical cancer on Facebook.
Ballarat radio personality Paul 'PT' Taylor said his wife Donna, who died on April 17 at the age of 38, would have been happy if her story helped one person in the smallest way.
"I know for a fact she helped more than one," he said.
"She had the most beautiful smile, strength of character and was always eternally grateful for everything anyone did for her.
"She'll be looking down at all of us and saying 'mourn and grieve but not for too long'. I was proud to be your husband."
Family and friends remembered when Donna met Paul and first spoke about "this man who worked on the radio".
She was "stunning" on their wedding day and had never appeared so happy.
Finding out she had cancer was "devastating" for her family, but Donna faced the battle head on and stayed positive throughout.
PT said Donna was born tough and had to be to endure the challenges life threw at her.
He wasn't looking for love when they met, but they chose one another because they were "meant to be", he said.
Donna became a mother to his two boys and shaped him into the person he was today.
Her sister Julie said their hearts were "broken forever".
"You had so much to look forward to and so much still to do but God needed somebody in heaven who is as special as you Donna," she said.
Donna had a lot of laughs with good friends over the years, mourners also heard.
She used to run down the hill at the Ballarat Wildlife Park as fast as she could so the kangaroos would chase her.
When one occasion they did, the look on her face was priceless.
Donna, who at the age of 26 was diagnosed with the heart condition Long QT Syndrome, was told early last year she had cervical cancer.
Late last year, doctors told Donna she only had a few months to live.
But she continued her courageous fight to the end, inspiring those around her.