BATTLING Pontypool mum Daune Green completed the Great North Run last weekend, a year after missing the race having been diagnosed with cancer.

Mrs Green, 38, completed the 13.1 mile run from Newcastle to South Shields in 2 hours and 11 minutes, raising money for the Alzheimer’s society in the process.

Mum of two Mrs Green 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.”

But a year on Mrs Green is in remission and his hoping she will have made enough progress to be downgraded from needing six-monthly tests to yearly ones.

Of the run she said: “It was a wonderful experience. So far I’ve raised more than £400 and I’ve still got pledges coming in.

“The weather was terrible. Wet and windy it was horrible and made it very tough but I’m so glad after missing out last year because of the operation to have done it.

“I chose Alzheimer’s because it’s a horrible condition.”

She said her uncle Adrian had been one of those who suffered with the disease.

The London Marathon is potentially a next target for the brave Mrs Green but for now she is just thankful to her family and friends for their support.

She said: “I’d just like to thank Griffithstown Harriers for their support, my family, Kelly Tucker, my best friend who accompanied me to Newcastle and to everyone who donated to my collection.”

If you would like to support Mrs Green’s fundraising then visit www.justgiving.co.uk/daune-green1.