NEWS of the sudden death of her friend came as a crushing blow but filled Suzi Carthy with renewed determination to complete the Oxford Half Marathon in her memory.

Seven years ago the Nationwide analyst was diagnosed with breast cancer at the same time as her friend Rebecca Rowland, or Becky as she knew her. Together, they beat the disease successfully, until it returned in the form of brain tumours.

While Suzi’s tumour was operable, 49-year-old Becky was not as fortunate.

Inspired by her resolve not to give up, Suzi signed up to the Oxford Half Marathon and raised valuable funds for Prospect Hospice, where the BID manager for inSwindon was receiving care.

Becky died on Wednesday, October 8, four days before the challenge, at the Wroughton hospice with her two daughters by her side.

Her death made Suzi even more determined to raise funds for the charity and push through the pain during the taxing race.

“It was quite emotional running in her memory,” said the 44-year-old from Faringdon.

“But when I found out she had died, it made me want to do it even more. I just tried to take a bit of her strength and bravery. What she had to face was very difficult.

“I really enjoyed the first 10 miles but then it got hard. It was a bit of a slog the last three miles. The pain kicked in a little bit and my legs were sore. But I thought ‘I can really finish these last few miles for her’.

“I thought about her when it got difficult and what she went through. What I had to face was nothing compared to what she faced.”

Her resolve paid off as she raised more than £1,000. To donate to Prospect Hospice in memory of Becky Rowland go to prospect-hospice.net