A PROFESSIONAL dancer whose husband lost his battle against lung cancer at the age of 42 has today thanked everybody who has supported her since his death.

A PROFESSIONAL dancer whose husband lost his battle against lung cancer at the age of 42 has today thanked everybody who has supported her since his death.

Kevin Snashall, who was also a dancer, died in October, two years after being diagnosed with the disease.

His wife Debbie, 35, of Henley, said she has been overwhelmed with the cards and letters she has received from friends and family.

She said: “I just want to thank everyone who has sent a card or written a letter.

“It's been a very difficult time but to know that so many people loved him and thought so highly of him means so much to me.

“I've received literally hundreds of cards and will never be able to reply to them all personally, so I just want people to know how much it meant.

“People wrote such lovely things and it was also a big comfort to see so many people at his funeral.”

Mrs Snashall and her husband worked as professional dancers on a Fred Olsen cruise ship before his illness and travelled the world performing.

Mr Snashall's illness was diagnosed in 2003 after he went to his GP complaining of a nasty hacking cough. He had never smoked in his life.

He tried everything he could to beat the disease including a course of chemotherapy and herbal remedies from an alternative therapy practitioner in Harley Street.

Speaking shortly after his death Mrs Snashall said: “I'll never forget how happy Kevin was during those years. He just loved his life so much. He loved performing and he just loved to have fun."

Mr Snashall was an ardent Ipswich Town fan and his wife had his ashes were scattered at Portman Road.

She said: “That way he can be at every game.”

Mrs Snashall continues to work as a dance teacher around Suffolk.