Her words were more powerful than any script.

As former Emmerdale star Leah Bracknell told the world she was suffering from terminal lung cancer, she made it clear she would not give up easily, insisting: “My priority is to defy expectation.”

Barely 48 hours later and she has done just that by raising nearly all the £50,000 needed for revolutionary, experimental treatment she hopes could save her life.

Friends of the star, who played Zoe Tate in the ITV soap for 16 years, say that she has been “astounded” by the support – as more than 2,000 people have donated to her GoFundMe page.

Emma Atkins and Leah Bracknell in Emmerdale (
Image:
itv)

Meanwhile, her former Emmerdale co-stars were rallying round the courageous actress.

Dominic Brunt, 46, who played Paddy Kirk, said: “I visited my friend Leah. There is always hope.”

Leah, 52, whose real name is Alison, first fell ill five weeks ago when she started becoming breathless.

She was rushed to hospital for an emergency operation to reduce fluid around her heart.

Gemma Oaten is providing support (
Image:
Getty)

It was then doctors discovered she had Stage 4 lung cancer.

But while she says the NHS is unsure what they can do, she and partner Jez Hughes are planning to use the money raised to be treated at German clinic Hallwang.

The techniques used there are not available on the NHS but it is claimed the methods have put “incurable” cancers into remission.

Friend Billy Fulker is confident Leah would not have shed tears about her diagnosis, saying her determination to be positive was typical of her.

Dominic Brunt is close friends with Leah (
Image:
itv)

He added: “I was so, so sad when I saw her diagnosis. Then, when I read her quotes about it, I just felt calm.

“I can imagine she got the diagnosis and just went home, smiled and worked out her next move. I hope Germany can give her the alternative cure she craves.”

He believes Leah’s life since quitting the Dales in 2006 has provided her with enough strength to try to fight the disease.

She turned to holistic therapies, first qualifying as a yoga instructor and later becoming a shamanic healer.

Mark Charnock is said to be devastated (
Image:
itv)

Speaking about how yoga changed her life, she said: “Yoga has been a source of great strength and inspiration to me, guiding me through life’s challenges large and small, along a path rich in discovery, learning and personal healing.”

Leah later switched to shamanism so that she could help heal people as well as herself.

She added: “Yoga and shamanism has the ability to create deep and potent transformation and profound healing of the spirit.”

But while the actress-turned-health guru seems to be a pillar of strength, those closest to her are finding it hard to come to terms with the sudden cancer diagnosis.

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Leah’s mother Li-Er Hwang, 78, revealed it had been hard on them
all, saying only: “It’s too difficult to talk about at the moment as I’m still trying to come to terms with it.”

Leah’s partner Jez has been by her side throughout, caring for her at their home in Worthing, Sussex, which they share with her two children Lily, 24, and Maya, 20, from her marriage to writer Lyall Watson.

Jez, a fellow shamanic healer and author of The Heart Of Life: Shamanic Initiation and Healing in the Modern World, has described Leah as his “beautiful partner”.

Since launching the funding page two days ago, both he and Leah, who he calls Ali, are feeling positive.

Leah's fundraising page

He said: “It means such a lot to be so loved and sup­­ported. We are both feeling incredibly buoyant and positive.

"Ali has such a strong spirit and has responded to this healing crisis in an amazing way. Thank you again from us both for your love and prayers – and lots of love back to you all.”

Leah grew up in London and Oxford with her parents David Bracknell and Li-Er, before spending a year in New Zealand and Fiji.

Her first break into the TV industry came in 1976 in The Chiffy Kids, which was directed by her father.

How the Daily Mirror reported the tragic news

She proved a hit and went on to study at the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art, leading to her main role as Zoe in Emmerdale just two years after leaving.

She starred on the soap for an impressive 16 years, taking only short breaks for maternity leave, before leaving in a dramatic storyline in 2006.

Viewers saw the actress walk away after her character sensationally blew up Home Farm.

The scene went on to win a gong at the British Soap Awards.

Leah Bracknell in Emmerdale

Her storylines included the deaths of her father Frank and brother Chris, the betrayal and departure of her stepmother Kim, a battle with schizophrenia as well as coming out as a lesbian.

She later went on to star as Mrs Manningham in Gaslight and Strangers On A Train before taking the lead role in 2008 in Turn Of
The Screw.

In 2010, she appeared in an episode of A Touch Of Frost

During her time in Emmerdale, Leah formed a string of close friendships.

Leah Bracknell in The Royal Today (
Image:
ITV)

Actor Mark Charnock, 48, who plays Marlon Dingle, has been left devastated by the news.

He tweeted a link to the fundraising page saying: “Leah’s fighting fund. She’s an extraordinary person. Please donate if you can.”

And Gemma Oaten, 32, who played Rachel Breckle, said she is part of the soap’s “family”.

She added: “I think the way she has come out with this news with
such positivity and hope is inspiring.

“My dad had Stage 3 aggressive prostate cancer, we were told to expect to worst.

Leah Bracknell in Doctors (
Image:
BBC)

"And yet with his positivity and strength he defied the odds. I’m praying Leah will do the same.

“Terminal is such a scary word but Leah is showing many that there is still hope and fight.”

On Thursday, Leah posted an emotional message on the website she set up to fund the treatment.

It read: “My abdomen ballooned and within a few days I looked heavily pregnant. I could barely walk or breathe.

Leah Bracknell is fighting terminal lung cancer (
Image:
LeahBracknellYoga/facebook)

“Then, one Saturday night at the beginning of September I ended up in A&E for an emergency procedure to remove a large amount of fluid from around my heart.

“However, the bad news is that I have been diagnosed with lung cancer, Stage 4.

In their opinion, that means it’s terminal, not curable, not operable.

A fairly brutal and bleak diagnosis but one I am determined to challenge and see from the perspective of ‘a glass half full’.

“Please imagine me writing this and speaking in quite an upbeat and cheerful voice.

"Do NOT imagine me sitting here writing through a veil of tears. I am not. Or feeling sorry for myself. I am not (yet).”

Rachel Blair, 26, works for the Worthing Churches Homeless Project where Leah has been volunteering for the past three years.

She said: “Leah is a great supporter of the charity. She is a very giving person. It was a shock. She is just an incredible person and so caring.”