A WOMAN who was unable to walk more than 500 metres without losing her breath will take on the London Marathon this month after losing 12st 7lbs.

Rachel Edmunds, from Weardale, County Durham, has more than halved her body weight since starting Slimming World in January 2015, dropping from 22st 9lbs to 10st 2lbs.

The 41-year-old joined her local branch in Wolsingham after a humiliating experience at an rugby match when she was unable to fit through the turnstile and had to use the disabled entrance.

At the time, the only exercise Mrs Edmunds partook in was walking her dog, which left her out of breath. She had tried numerous diets over the years but always regained the weight she lost.

Fast forward two years and the mother-of-two is healthy, happy and a keen runner, and on Sunday, April 23, she hopes to fulfill her ambition to run the London Marathon. As part of the Slimming World national team, she is raising money for Cancer Research UK and aims to increase awareness of how maintaining a healthy weight reduces the risk of developing some types of cancer.

Mrs Edmunds said: “I can’t believe how far I’ve come in the past few years and all the incredible changes I’ve made.

“I’m happier and healthier and, by making all these healthier changes I’ve reduced my chances of developing a range of health problems including some types of cancer.

“I’ve really found a love for running and I can’t believe I’m now going to be running the big one this year, my dream, the London Marathon

“I can’t wait for the atmosphere on race day and to cross that finish line. Achieving this life-long ambition would never have been possible before losing weight.”

Mrs Edmunds, a community investment manager for County Durham Housing Group, has been following Slimming World’s Food Optimising healthy eating plan, swapping convenience foods and takeaways for wholesome meals prepared from scratch.

Her Slimming World consultant Barbara Turnbull said: “Rachel is a real inspiration to us all and we are so proud of her.

“When she first came through the door she just wanted to lose weight, she had no idea what a huge transformation she was about to begin, and certainly no idea that she would one day be running the London Marathon, it’s incredible.

“She proves that with a little determination and the right kind of support, anyone’s weight loss and activity dreams can be achieved.”