Beauty therapist Jane Bennett is marking her 50th birthday by running the Virgin Money London Marathon next month in aid of the charity Beating Bowel Cancer.

Jane, who runs her own business in Radlett, will be celebrating her birthday four days before the marathon on April 26 and she is running in memory of a close friend who died a year ago.

She said: “The marathon will be two days before the anniversary of his death. With it being such a poignant time I want to raise money to fight this terrible disease. It would also be a tribute to a wonderful man, husband and father.”

Jane started running five years ago but this will be her first marathon and training is going well though she is “seeing a lot of the physio”.

Bowel cancer is the UK’s second biggest cancer killer. Each year around 41,000 people are diagnosed with the disease, but if caught early, more than 90 per cent of cases can be treated successfully.

Beating Bowel Cancer is the support and campaigning charity for everyone affected by bowel cancer.

Graham Kelly, Director of Fundraising, said: “We’re very grateful for Jane’s support and fundraising efforts, which will help the charity continue to help more patients.

"The marathon is a huge commitment to undertake and we wish Jane the best of luck for the challenge and we’ll be cheering her on from the side-lines.”

To donate to Jane’s fundraising effort, visit: www.justgiving.com/Jane-Bennett11

For more information and advice about bowel cancer visit www.beatingbowelcancer.org