A BRAVE North-East supermum, who fought an inspirational fight against cancer, typified the spirit of the London Marathon today.

Viv Pow, 52, of Hurworth-on-Tees, near Darlington, raised around £4,000 for the Beating Bowel Cancer charity by completing the gruelling course in four hours and 21 minutes.

And what made her achievement extra-special is that she ran the 26 miles wearing an ileostomy bag after having her colon removed during her cancer battle.

Viv told The Northern Echo: “I’m absolutely buzzing – it was just an unforgettable experience.”

The former policewoman added: “The atmosphere was so amazing, with music playing and people cheering you on. I think I must have smiled the whole way round.”

Those well-wishers, supporting the runners from the side-lines, included Prince William, Prince Harry and Kate Middleton.

More than 40,000 runners took part in the 37th London Marathon, surpassing last year’s record of 39,140. As well as elite athletes, the race featured fancy-dress entrants, including a Bishop, a bottle of beer, a toilet roll, a Buzz Lightyear and even a Donald Trump.

Mum-of-two, Viv, who was met at the finish by husband Jeff, said: “There was a man running with a tumble dryer strapped to his back and a pink dinosaur passed me at one point.”

Viv first found out she had cancer in 2012 and had surgery before embarking on a course of chemotherapy. Incredibly, just 16 weeks after her treatment ended, she completed the Yorkshire Marathon.

The cancer was found to have returned in 2014 and she had her entire colon removed, meaning she needed to be fitted with an ileostomy bag. Within three months of the operation she tackled the Darlington 10k, recording a personal best time, before going on to run the Rome Marathon.

She is now a committed bowel cancer campaigner and counsels others who need to wear an ileostomy bag. Running has become part of her life and today was her eighth official marathon, having also covered the 26 miles in Paris, Edinburgh twice, Kielder twice, as well as Rome and Yorkshire. Her best marathon time is four hours nine minutes.

Viv, who works as a receptionist at Darlington’s BMI Woodlands Hospital, could be excused for taking it easy.

However, she is now planning an energetic “activity holiday” in Lanzarote with friends, before embarking on the Ripon 10 Miles race on May 14.