A Watford cancer survivor will take on the London Marathon this weekend in memory of two friends lost to the disease.

Lucy Shepherd, 37, hopes to raise funds for the Institute of Cancer Research (ICR), having recovered from treatment for breast cancer. She’s dedicating her efforts to friends Nicola and Margarita, who died of different types of cancers.

She said: “I will forever be in awe of the grace and dignity with which Nicola and Margarita endured everything their diseases threw at them.

"They were both immeasurably special people who taught me how to live. I wish I could tell them that." 

More than £5,500 has already been raised. For more information and to donate visit: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/lucyvslondon.

Lucy works for the NHS and is a 10-year veteran of the Mount Vernon Cancer Centre, a specialist clinic that treats people across Hertfordshire.

She added: “The ICR are world leaders in identifying cancer genes, discovering cancer drugs, and developing cutting-edge radiotherapy.

"Their work has already made such a difference."