Woman given months to live completes marathon

A woman with stage four brain cancer who has outlasted her doctors' life expectancy predictions has completed the London Marathon.

Elle Mortimer, 31, from Billericay, Essex, received her diagnosis in November 2023, with doctors telling her she could only expect to live another five to eight months.

However, she is not slowing down, having enjoyed Sunday's run of 26.2 miles (42km) so much that she is hungry for more.

"It was incredible. I loved every minute of it, and I've signed up for next year already," she said.

The London Marathon is not the only commitment Ms Mortimer, a wellness coach, is making, however: she hopes to marry her fiance Jack Panteny in October next year.

She is currently waiting for the results of her latest MRI scan, but will not let them stop her from planning for the future.

"It's bad but, to be honest with you, what the doctors say and what I do is two different things," she said.

"I just push myself. If I have something to do - no matter if it's tomorrow or in two years' time - I will be doing it."

Ms Mortimer aimed to raise £3,000 for the National Brain Appeal, but has so far raised £5,000.

"[It's] just gone up and up and up; it's brilliant," she said.

Ms Mortimer said she was far from a runner before, but it had become "like my therapy" since her illness.

She had previously taken on two half-marathons in 2023, but Sunday was the first time she faced the physical challenge of a full marathon, completing the distance in seven hours.

"Apart from a toe that's a bit swollen, I feel great," she told BBC Essex.

"I powered it completely without stopping until mile 16. Pure adrenaline pushed me through that and I was like 'Wow'.

"I started walking and that's when the pain started happened.

"I saw my partner and my kids and I just broke down crying, I was like 'I'm in so much pain.'

"And then I got an adrenaline boost from them going 'Go Mummy! Go Mummy!'"

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