BRAVE cancer battler Caroline Simpson is putting her best foot forward to tackle the Great North Run just six months after undergoing surgery.

Mrs Simpson, of Woodland Road, Darlington, was diagnosed with type C breast cancer in October 2013.

She described the diagnosis as “daunting” and was anxious about receiving treatment that would aggravate her longstanding and fairly extreme needle phobia.

Mrs Simpson underwent a lumpectomy at Darlington Memorial Hospital in December 2013 but sadly they discovered the cancer covered a larger area than initially thought so a mastectomy was required.

This was carried out in February 2014, followed by chemotherapy and radiotherapy plus a final round of surgery in February this year.

Mrs Simpson is grateful to all the people and organisations that helped her fight the disease and is determined to raise as much money as she can by completing the charity run in Newcastle on September 13.

She said: “I had a huge support team and for that I am eternally grateful, but many people face the cancer battle alone.

“It is for all of these people that I am running the Great North Run, to raise funds for MacMillan Cancer Care, The James Cook Trinity Hospice and St Teresa's Hospice.

“Cancer is a numbers game, we will all be affected in some way and the charities I have chosen really do help individuals after the initial 'Big C' diagnosis, from offering practical advice to healing therapies as well as a shoulder to shout, cry and vent on.”

Ms Simpson has currently raised more than £800 through online donations and anybody who wants to contribute can visit sponsorme.co.uk/carolinesimpson/great-north-run.aspx