A VALE grandmother almost crippled through cancer is celebrating her recovery by taking part in Evesham's Race for Life.

Judy Knight, aged 61, from Evesham, was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in her spine in March last year. As part of her treatment, the grandmother of nine had pins inserted in her vertebra.

Mrs Knight said: "I am one of the success stories and I just feel very grateful for that. It is quite a frightening thing to think that if I had not been diagnosed when I was, I would have been crippled.

"Race for Life is a challenge I have set myself and it is my way of saying thank you to everyone who helped me. I am walking the course, which is something I could not have done last March. I am also doing it in memory of my friend Jeanette who was diagnosed with cancer around the same time as me but sadly died.

"Having cancer forces you to be very positive and I would encourage anyone thinking about taking part in Race for Life to just do it."

Evesham's Race for Life takes place on Sunday, June 20 at Crown Meadow at 11am. Nearly 550 have so far signed up out of a target of 1,200. The aim is to raise £50,000 for Cancer Research UK.

To enter, call 08705 134314 or visit www.raceforlife.org