A woman who was diagnosed with bowel cancer at the age of 47 is taking on a half marathon this weekend.

Lizzie Jokiel, 50, from Abbots Langley, will be running the Big Half Marathon in London on Sunday in support of Bowel Cancer UK and Beating Bowel Cancer.

Ms Jokiel had surgery to remove the cancer and then chemotherapy and now has a permanent stoma, an opening on the front of an abdomen which allows waste to pass out of the body.

She now runs three times a week and ran her last half marathon Eindhoven in the Netherlands in October and also completed the Graham Taylor Abbots Langley Tough 10.

Ms Jokiel said: “I’m raising money for this charity that helped me, so others can continue to be supported. I am thankful that my cancer was treated and I now feel fit enough to go out and do things I never imagined myself doing. A diagnosis of cancer does not mean it’s the end. I’m feeling confident and looking forward to the run.”

Bowel Cancer UK and Beating Bowel Cancer fundraising events manager Leanne Richards said: “We are very proud to have Lizzie fundraising for us, it’s an amazing challenge. For us, it means we can continue with our vital work of saving lives, enabling research and improving the quality of life and support services for all those affected by bowel cancer.”

Bowel cancer is the second biggest cancer killer in the UK, with nearly 16,000 people in dying each year.

Visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/elisabeth-jokiel1 to sponsor Lizzie Jokiel.