A mum who has overcome an aggressive form of cancer is running two back-to-back marathons through the Sahara desert - just one year after finishing her treatment.
Ruth Naylor, an operations director from Hale , was diagnosed with Hodgkins lymphoma - a form of blood cancer - in August 2017.
The 34-year-old mum-of-two was in the throes of building a new business and had initially put her overwhelming tiredness down to her busy lifestyle.
But after feeling exhausted for several weeks she went to the GP and tests revealed a large tumour intertwined between her lung and her heart.
"Hearing the words 'it's cancer' was the worst shock of my life. I just couldn't believe it was happening to me", Ruth said.
"My mum died at the age of 47 of liver cancer and went from diagnosis to death in just five weeks.
"I kept thinking of my own children and was faced with losing everything."
She began eight months of chemotherapy treatment followed by radiotherapy at The Christie Hospital .
She said the treatment was 'brutal' and took her away from her children Eva, 6, and Oscar 4.
"I lost weight due to chemo sickness, I lost my waist-length blonde hair, and I lost my eyebrows and eyelashes, which fell out just weeks into treatment", Ruth added.
"Looking in the mirror, I didn't recognise myself, and my confidence plummeted."
Looking to rebuild her confidence, Ruth started jogging in the countryside near her home between hospital visits.
She said that despite there being days when she felt too sick and only managed a crawl, getting out of the house and moving 'got her through the treatment'.
Now, after overcoming the disease, Ruth will take on two marathons in two days through the Sahara desert.
She has ramped up her training regime in preparation for the challenge and completes one long run a week, as well as doing aerobic and resistance work.
Ruth flies to Morocco on Thursday, October 10, along with hundreds of other fundraisers completing the challenge.
"I want to show others that they can also get through this disease and adversity - by putting one foot in front of the other", she said.
"People thought I was mad going running through cancer treatment, but the 'high' that comes from it is amazing.
"And for me, just stepping on the plane to Africa next week will feel like I've won.
"I want to show people that cancer doesn't have to be a death sentence.
"I have two children to raise and dying is not an option for me. We should be left to face our own mortality when we're grey, old and we've lived a life to remember.
"I won't let cancer call the shots."
All of the money Ruth raises will go to Manchester Beats Cancer - a newly-created fundraising committee she chairs, which aims to raise awareness and funds for Cancer Research UK in the North West.
To donate to Ruth's Saharan Run, click here .
For more information about Cancer Research UK's work, call 0300 123 1022 or click here .
