Plymouth nurse prepares to run London Marathon in memory of her dad

A NURSE who lost her father to prostate cancer will be pounding the streets of London to raise awareness of the disease.

Joanne Bookless-Browne, a recovery practitioner at Derriford Hospital, will be running the London Marathon on Sunday, April 21, in memory of dad Derek Blackmore, who lost his life to the illness eight years ago.

Joanne said she knows her dad would have been on the streets supporting her, along with the other 650,000 spectators, if he was still alive.

"He was a lovely man," she said. "He was really jolly and everybody loved him. I know he would be in London cheering me on if he was still here."

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Joanne hopes to raise a minimum of £2,000 for Prostate Cancer UK and is already a quarter of the way there. She will be running alongside sister-in-law Sue, who is helping Joanne with her fundraising.

"I'm half excited and half scared," Joanne confessed. I am running four times a week and just bringing up the mileage week by week. I'm up to 15 miles so far and it's feeling good."

The 46-year-old, from Elburton, has fought her own battles to get ready for the 26.2-mile challenge.

"I took up running three years ago after having a heart operation," she said. "I wanted to say thank you to Derriford cardiology department for all they did for me, so I raised money through a half marathon.

"Now I have my health back I really value it. I feel more alive and energetic, especially after I run."

She added: "If you're diagnosed early there is a good prognosis for those with prostate cancer."

Donate at www.justgiving.com/joanne-bookless-browne.