A DETERMINED fundraiser proved she has not let cancer beat her when she took on a 100k charity race.

Alex Pilgrim, from Blandford, was part of the Combat Crew who took part in the two-day Race to the Stones Ultra along the Wessex Ridgeway, to raise almost £2,000 for Bowel & Cancer Research.

The 61-year-old set herself the challenge to celebrate her journey back to health and was supported by friends from the 'runblandford' running club, who helped Alex on her road to recovery following a bowel cancer diagnosis in May 2017.

She said: "Our challenge was to push ourselves out of our comfort zone and prove to each of us that we are all capable of more than we think. It was brutally hot – like a white linear oven - and you had to grit your teeth every step of the way.

"You counted the minutes to each aid station and when you got there it was like a war zone because so many people were suffering from blisters and exhaustion. It was fairly emotional when we crossed the finish line as a team. It was sheer determination that got us through the last 10 miles."

The route of the race, organised by Threshold Sport, starts in Lewknor in Oxfordshire and rises onto the North Wessex Downs before an iconic finish between the towering stones of Avebury.

Former teacher Alex, who has completed a number of 10k events and half marathons in the last 18 months, was joined by Karen Hall from Blandford, Zoe Blyth and Jo Stoker from Dorchester, and Ruth Oliver from Corfe Mullen, with additional support from Jane Adams from Corfe Mullen and Jane England from Winterbourne Stickland.

She added: "I wanted a proper challenge other than chemo and surgery. I feel I’ve been doubly fuelled – one power pack is taking me away from cancer and another is pulling me towards a new life."

To support Alex, visit bowelcancerresearch.org/fundraisers/alexs-combatcrew-adventure-race-to-the-stones-2018