THE image of a single mother was given a positive boost this week, after a Radlett woman was presented with an award for her achievements inside and outside of parenthood.

Ms Paula Lee, 41, has been named south east regional winner of Single Mum of the Year 2000.

Ms Lee was nominated by her parents, Ann and Noah, into the annual competition run in That's Life! Magazine.

As well as Ms Lee bringing up her two children, Juliette, 14, and Daniel, 17, the divorcee has a full-time job and played an intrinsic role in starting up a cancer appeal fund, still running.

Her son's friend, Joshua Gilbert, was aged eight when he was diagnosed with a rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare form of muscle cancer.

Ms Lee organised discos, raffles and a celebrity-studded charity ball, attended by footballer David Seaman and actress Lesley Ash, and managed to raise £55,000 to send Joshua to America for life-saving cancer treatment.

This continued at London's Portland Hospital when he returned. However, the treatment came too late and Joshua died aged ten, in April 1994.

Ms Lee said: 'We were all devastated, particularly Daniel, who was a year older. They were good friends.

'The appeal has carried on because, before he died, Josh said he wanted the money to be used for research to benefit others.

'Looking back, I don't know how I fitted it all in because, on top of working and organising the ball, cooking, cleaning, washing and bringing up children, I was fighting to get Juliette help at school because she had learning difficulties. I was doing 18-hour days, and it all got a bit much.

'My biggest achievement as a single mum is the children because they've turned out fantastically. I'm so proud of them.'

Ms Lee, along with other parents from around the UK, was invited to The Savoy Hotel in London on Sunday to collect her cash prize of £500.

Editor of That's Life! Magazine Ms Janice Turner said: 'Paula is bringing up two teenagers alone but still finds time to think of other people.

'Raising loads of money for charity, she's an effective campaigner and a marvellous mum.'