TWO women are celebrating their success in raising more than £5,000 for the World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) by completing this year's London Marathon.

Cate Taynton and Pat Tear decided to enter the London event after successfully completing the Plymouth half-marathon last year, and trained right through the winter for this new challenge.

The selection of the WCRF as their charity was relatively easy. Cate said: 'My husband, John, was diagnosed with cancer last year, and is undergoing treatment, so WCRF is a really good cause for us to support.'

WCRF is dedicated to the prevention of cancer. It funds scientific research on how diet, physical activity and weight management affect cancer risk, and supports education programmes that tell people in UK what they can do to reduce their risk of cancer.

Among the fund-raising ventures that helped them exceed their target were a cocktail party, a Soul Sausage and Salsa event and several raffles. They also received support from individuals and organisations in Horrabridge, where they both live.

Both Cate and Pat have been touched by the amount of support their friends, colleagues and business contacts have given.

Pat said: 'We are so pleased to be able to hand £5,000 over to WCRF. The work they do is helping to reduce the number of people who develop cancer.'