A RAGLAN woman who beat cancer is preparing to run in the London marathon and is undertaking a whole host of fundraising initiatives.

Pip Rumsey, 37, was diagnosed with cervical cancer last year, which was discovered when her smear test result came back abnormal.

Miss Rumsey was quickly referred to Nevill Hall Hospital in Abergavenny, where she had two operations to remove the cancer cells from her cervix.

"Whilst I was recovering from my operations I found Jo's Trust on the internet, this is the only charity for cervical cancer and they were brilliant," she said.

After a year of recovery Miss Rumsey has decided she would like to give something back to the charity which supported her. As the chairperson of the Monmouthshire hunt supporters club she organised a strictly come dancing night for the club's members to raise funds. Eight couples waltzed, mamboed and jived the night away in front of a packed crowd who fell about in laughter. The panel of judges scored the couples but the crowd had the final vote and donated their hard-earned money to vote for their favourite couple.

The winners were Jess Yeomans and Greg Overs who were presented with a trophy glitter ball and they also have the honour of dancing their Jive again at the hunt ball in March.

The hunt so far have raised £1,250 for Miss Rumsey but she will hopes to reach her £3,000 target by running in this year's London Marathon.

Miss Rumsey, who works in Raglan garden centre is training by running five days a week at 6am with her dog, Tick.

Last week she ran 16 miles and is making good progress, even though she is currently suffering from shin splints, which she is having treatment for, and hopes will get better in time.

She laughed: "Training has been a nightmare and I sometimes feel like I need someone in front of me dangling a bar of chocolate."

Miss Rumsey has organised another event to raise funds, a Robbie Williams tribute band will be playing on April 23, in the Hogs Head Pub, Llantillio Crossenny, at 7.30pm. Tickets cost £10 and are available from the pub.

If anyone would like to help Miss Rumsey to reach her target of £3,000, she would be really grateful for any donations large or small. These can be made at http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/PipRumsey