Jade Goody, a young mum, is dying from cancer.  Jade has been a UK celebrity since her time in Big Brother, and has been ridiculed, promoted, humiliated, accused and loved by the British public. 

What is it about Jade that we love? It is her innocence, and the fact that, despite her background, and lack of clout, she has risen to fame and become successful.

Now the cancer has spread and she is in the news everyday.  Her publicist, Max Clifford, has told her to step out of the media.  But Jade, recently married, is determined to keep smiling for the cameras despite her obvious pain. She has a bigger plan through her death.  She knows her ratings in the media, the fact that she is front page news, and she is not oblivious to the fact that she is a walking advertisement for cancer.  Through her illness, and through her eventual death, she is promoting the fact that cancer exists. 

Her illness has progressed quickly.  And she does not have much time left. There are so many people dying of cancer, but we find it uncomfortable to deal with, especially when it is a young person.  The fact that Jade is a young mum, and a successful celebrity is a lesson to us all that it can happen to anyone at any time.  So many children and young people die from cancer (as can anyone) and it is a robber of life.  Jade is reminding us of that every time she smiles at the camera.  She is a promoter of life, and is more educational than any cancer charity at this time. 

Through her illness, young people are educated about cervical cancer.  They are made aware of they way cancer can spread.  The need for checks and smears. The fact that despite treatment, it can still come back.  Through her illness, we hope that this will spur people on to raise money for cancer research and hospices.

For every Jade Goody, there are thousands of people we don't hear about dying from cancer. She is speaking for them - try and catch it before it is too late. 

No matter what the press and British people thought of Jade Goody before, she is an inspiration to us all now.