Two years ago I was fighting cancer... look at me now!

Apr 25 2007 By Alison Dayani, Birmingham Mail

VICTORIA Littlehales spelled out her pride at running the London Marathon just two years after battling cancer.

Brave Victoria's vest was emblazoned with the message: "Two years ago I was fighting cancer... look at me now!"

As revealed in last Saturday's Birmingham Mail, Victoria took on her biggest challenge since battling back from the disease.

The poignant words proved an inspiration to fellow runners along the 26 mile route as dozens patted her on the back, voiced their praise or even gave them the motivation to carry on.

Every painful step of the four hours and 28 minutes it took the Birmingham mother of two to complete the race in unseasonal heat, showed how far she has come since being diagnosed with thyroid cancer.

"It was an absolutely brilliant experience and I didn't realise what an emotional day it would be for me," said 36-year-old Victoria, of Hall Green.

"I hoped people would read the message on my back but didn't think people would say anything. So I was amazed how many runners patted me on the shoulder.

"Some told me they were tiring, but my message kept them running.

"I ended up crying with emotion during a lot of the marathon and seeing my children along the route lifted me."

Victoria, a stained glass artist who teaches art at Solihull College and South Birmingham College, was greeted at the finish line by husband Patrick and children Milly, nine and Jasper, seven.

Three years ago, Victoria noticed a lump in her neck and thought it was tonsillitis before it was diagnosed as cancer in the neck.

Giant metal pins put in her neck made her children think she was "Frankenstein's monster", and she was also radioactive.

Victoria is set to raise around £3,000 for Cancer Research UK to help other sufferers.