IF ALISON Coombs' bedroom is a bit more cluttered at the moment, she has the best possible excuse.
The mother-of-one may be almost drowning under dozens of handbags – but it's all in a very good cause.
She is holding a handbag sale as the first stage of her fundraising quest to help fight breast, cervical and ovarian cancers.
And, fresh from a gruelling charity bike ride in India, she is now raising funds for a 400-mile cycle trek across Cuba.
It all began 18 months ago when Miss Coombs spotted an advertisement in a slimmers' magazine for a women-only cycle challenge across India.
Having just lost five stones in weight herself and, with cancer having cast its shadow over her own family, she signed up. She raised £3,500 last November for various cancer charities.
Miss Coombs, a graphic designer of Westhall Road, Warlingham, joined 87 other women in cycling 200 miles in India whilst camping out.
Now Cuba awaits in May next year.
The 43-year-old said: "When I was a teenager, my mother Sue had cancer of the colon.
"Thankfully she made a full recovery.
"And it wasn't until midway through the India challenge that I realised so many of the participants were themselves survivors of cancer."
Miss Coombs, who has an 11-year-old son, is getting the fundraising under way for her latest venture with a handbag sale.
She said: "My bedroom is slowly being buried under a pile of handbags and accessories.
"I currently have about 50 handbags to sell, as well as shoes, boots, scarves, belts and jewellery.
"I have been asking for people to donate any handbags that they no longer use and are willing to give away to a good cause."
The sale will take place on Saturday, June 1, from 2 to 5pm at Warlingham Village Hall in Limpsfield Road.
If you can donate any handbags or raffle prizes e-mail Alison at coombs.alison@yahoo.com or text/call on 07883 343342.
Among raffle prizes already collected are tickets for Oxted's Everyman cinema and a meal for two at The Horseshoe pub in Warlingham and tickets to Godstone Farm.
She is also hoping to organise a charity event at a local restaurant and a golf day in Buckinghamshire.
To sponsor her, visit www.justgiving.com/ali-cuba.
