A COURAGEOUS mum who has battled cancer for 10 years is set to follow in the footsteps of an inspirational fundraiser.

Jane Butterworth, of Bamford, is to take part in the York 10km run in August - a race set up in memory of Yorkshire cancer victim Jane Tomlinson, who raised hundreds of thousands of pounds before succumbing to the disease.

The mum-of-two was diagnosed with bowel cancer 10 years ago, with tumours spreading to her liver, lungs and brain.

But despite the 45-year-old’s poor health she was determined to help raise awareness of the disease and give something back to the charities which helped her.

Over the past decade she has raised more than £5,000 for charity, taking part in the Manchester 10km and holding gala nights at Bamford Cricket Club. But Jane hopes her latest event will top them all.

She said: "I am doing it to give something back to Christie's because, without them, I wouldn’t be here today. But I am also doing it to help people realise you can have secondary stage cancer and still carry on. It is not all doom and gloom. I am still here 10 years later. People can keep on going."

For the last two years Jane, who used to work as a teaching assistant, has had to suspend her charity work due to ill health.

But she has responded well to her latest treatment and is now making regular visits to the gym as she tries to raise as much money as possible for The Christie Hospital and Macmillan Cancer Care.

She will be running alongside her husband, Heywood police inspector Darrell Butterworth, and her 76-year-old dad, Ray Theakston.

She added: "It has been very hard. There are not many people who have had cancer through their body like me that are still here after such a long time. But I am fit and healthy at the minute and I am just taking it month by month. I am starting to get back into the training. Being ill like I was really hits your confidence. But now I am feeling well again and I am back in the gym and back out running."

To make a donation visit www.justgiving.com/janeybutterworth