AN INSPIRING Midland mother has launched her own natural skin cream after inventing the formula whilst stricken with cancer.

Four years ago Edith Gabbidon was given some shea butter when she was undergoing chemotherapy and radiotherapy and it made such a difference she decided to make her own.

The 52-year-old mother of three spent months in her kitchen mixing ingredients to create a 100 per cent organic butter and now four years later a giant French company is mass producing it and it has been given an all-important Ecocert Certification.

She said: “It has been a long journey to get to the point where my Iuvo shea body butter cream is on sale throughout the world and hopefully my story will inspire other cancer sufferers to stay positive.

“I was feeling really low with all the side effects of my cancer treatment and it was a turning point when I was given some shea body butter.

“My skin had become dry, discoloured and I looked very drawn but because shea is from the African karite tree which contains vital amino-acids and helps skin repair itself I felt and looked a lot better after using it.”

“So I wanted to let other cancer sufferers know the wonders that shea body butter can do for them so I set about getting my own cream on the market.

After settling on the final formula Edith approached cosmetics companies and French giant Pole Cosmetique agreed to manufacturer her cream.

Edith's cream is even packaged in glass because a plastic bottle can leave the smallest traces of unnatural elements.

She said: “I did not think it would take so long but we have had to make so many decisions, from everything about the name to the type of packaging, but I am delighted we got there in the end.”

Edith believes her quest to share the secrets of shea to other cancer sufferers helped her battle her own illness.

She said: “It was a real motivation throughout my illness, I want to be an inspiration to other cancer sufferers, last year I got the great news I was in remission but I still have some minor surgeries to go through.

“However, I know I am fortunate because so many people do not make it, but I have my product on sale now which proves good things can come from bad situations.”

For more information about Iuvo shea body butter cream visit www.iuvoskincare.com.