A BRAVE mum who fought back from cancer to become a marathon runner has raised vital funds for charity.

Former policewoman Viv Pow, of Hurworth, near Darlington, arranged a pie and peas music evening at Hurworth Grange Community Centre and raised £1,204 for Beating Bowel Cancer.

Mother-of-two Viv was first diagnosed with the disease in 2012 and had surgery before embarking on a gruelling course of chemotherapy. 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. She has run marathons all over the world and is preparing for the London Marathon next month.

She is also a bowel cancer campaigner and counsels others.

Viv said: "My sincere thanks go to Eric Miller and friends for providing the wonderful music entertainment, to the staff at Hurworth Grange for their hard work throughout the evening and to all the supporters of the event for their kindness and generosity. 

"I am humbled and privileged to have been a part of bringing our community together in this way, raising funds and awareness of bowel cancer - what an amazing feeling!"