A FIT and healthy runner who said her life was saved by a cervical smear test is urging women to have the examination.

Pontypool mother-of-two, Daune Green, 38, was due to take part in the Great North Run last year, but following a routine smear test was told she had pre-cancerous cells in her cervix.

She said: “I had been training for the run and was fit and healthy, so it came as quite a shock. If I hadn’t got my smear test done then I wouldn’t have known, so I feel very lucky to be here.”

Cervical cancer develops in a woman’s cervix, caused by the human papillomavirus, and often shows no symptoms in its early stages.

She had the smear test in January, which came back abnormal, but a follow up biopsy came back fine.

Following a second biopsy in July, she was told she had pre-cancerous cells and required urgent treatment.

As Mrs Green was diagnosed early, she was treated through surgery in August to have her cervix removed.

She is now checked every six months.

Mrs Green, mother of Seren, 11, and Cariad, nine, said: “As a mother, I’m a supporter of the vaccination programme that protects against cervical cancer.”

Due to the timing of her operation, she was unable to take part in the Great North Run, but now she is pounding the pavements again.

She said: “I wanted to run the race for Alzheimer’s Society after my uncle, Adrian Harrhy, was diagnosed with the condition aged 58.”

Mrs Green, who trains with Griffithstown Harriers, has started collecting sponsorship for her 13.1 mile run from Newcastle to the coastal town of South Shields in September.

She will be collecting for Alzheimer’s Society in Cwmbran Gwent Square on August 3, from 9.30am- 4pm.

People can also donate online by visiting www.justgiving.co.uk/daune-green1