A PENSIONER is celebrating her recovery from liver cancer – by running the Great Wall of China marathon.

Anne Harwood, 65, of Clitheroe, underwent a 10-hour operation in February and promised surgeon Dr David Chang she would raise money for his cancer fund.

Mrs Harwood said: “It’s going to be a very difficult run. They call it an ultra-marathon because of the lack of air, heat, humidity and steepness. I’ll be running about 7km on the wall itself and the rest through surrounding towns and villages.

“To get up on to the wall first of all there’s 5,164 steps, so I’ve been up and down the steps on Pendle Hill in preparation.”

Mrs Harwood took up running 15 years ago and is a member of Blackburn Road Runners. She has run the London, New York, Manchester and Potteries marathons, and in 2001 represented Britain at the senior World Triathlon Championships in Canada.

Her illness was discovered when she was tested for another complaint last year.

She said: “It was a real shock because I’ve never been a drinker or smoker.

“I was in intensive care for three days after the operation. I’ve been told now that my liver is now regenerating and I’m doing well.

Mrs Harwood will be spurred on by her son Chris and friend Madeline Haworth, who are also competing in the event a week tomorrow.

Mrs Haworth, 56, from Pleasington, has done 12 marathons.

All three aim to raise £10,000 for the Mastering Gastric and Intestinal Cancers (MAGIC) fund at the Royal Blackburn Hospital.