A runner whose husband was diagnosed with cancer while watching her in a 10-mile event last year is raising money for a cancer charity.

Beth West, 44, will take part in the Great South Run - the same event this time last year at which husband Richard Blench noticed blood in his urine - which was later diagnosed as bladder cancer.

He visited the medical tent on the race day and staff advised him to make an urgent appointment with his doctor. By December Mr Blench, 42, of Wimbledon Chase, had undergone a series of tests and had been diagnosed with bladder cancer.

Mr Blench’s father also had bladder cancer and he underwent months of chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

A spokeswoman at Cancer Research UK said although at first it looked like his treatment had been successful, unfortunately in July doctors found that some of the tumours had returned.

The family is now waiting to find out what the next steps will be.

Ms West, mother of Oliver, five, and George, three, will be taking part in this year’s Bupa Great South Run in Portsmouth on Sunday, October 26 alongside thousands of other runners.

She said: "I wanted to raise money for Cancer Research UK to hopefully bring the situation full circle and achieve some closure on this but as the cancer has returned, that won’t be the case.

"However by fundraising I feel like I am doing something to help and make a difference."

Cancer Research UK hopes around 900 runners will raise around £150,000 to help beat the disease.

To sponsor Beth visit: www.justgiving.com/Beth-West/