THE family of a student who died of cancer have accepted her posthumous degree.

Megan Elizabeth Fletcher, of Wern, Bersham, lost a fight with refractory Hodgkin’s lymphoma in May last year.

Megan, who was 21, had started her studies into a three-year degree in Human Biosciences at the University of Plymouth in September 2008.

Despite being diagnosed with the cancer in January 2009 Megan continued with her studies and completed the first year of her course.

Her proud parents Fiona, 47, and Ian, 50, and her sister Becky, 20, accepted the Aegrotat Bachelor of Science Human Biosciences on what would have been Megan’s 22nd birthday.

Fiona said: “It was very moving.

“As a family we are so proud of what she has achieved.

“To be awarded a degree means there is more to life than death.

“It’s something you never expect to do to collect an aegrotat degree on behalf of your daughter who has died but the honour is incredible.”

Megan took a gap year before university studying diving and even before she was diagnosed wanted to carry out work into treating cancer using hyperbaric oxygen therapy.

Fiona said that despite Megan being diagnosed with cancer mid-way through her first year she still carried on with life as best she could.

“She attended lectures and was having chemo at the same time,” she said.

“She lost her hair but would wear hats and scarves – she didn’t want to appear as a cancer patient.

Speaking about what Megan was like, Fiona said: “She loved learning, she loved university, she loved life.

“Going to university was the highlight of her life. Everything she had done was for that moment. She worked hard and played hard.

“Megan was an active member of the university basketball team. She never stopped smiling and was uncomplicated, honest, hardworking and fun-loving.

“She was all about positivity.”

Fiona, who has since renewed her wedding vows with Ian on Megan’s request, added that it was a lovely Christmas but that Megan was “desperately missed”.

“There was a lot of laughter but also a lot of tears,” she added.

“It doesn’t get easier but you learn to cope.”