A CANCER survivor who ran an endurance race while undergoing chemotherapy is to bring the fundraising challenge to Morden Hall Park.

Melissa Fletcher who works at Chessington World of Adventures, ran her first Pretty Muddy race on June last year in Hammersmith, just months after her diagnosis with Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

She raised £2,680 for Cancer Research UK.

Miss Fletcher, from Morden, said: “I wanted to do Race for Life Pretty Muddy as I wanted to show others how you can get through anything with enough strength, determination and support.

“I didn’t expect to raise half as much as I did but it gave me the extra determination to complete the race.”

Amazingly the 21-year-old had already begun chemotherapy treatment at the time of the race and competed in the race the day after receiving one of her treatments at Royal Marsden.

She said: “I was feeling pretty rubbish on the day, but seeing so many people doing it and knowing my treatment was curing me gave me that extra push.”

Now she hopes to bring the race to Morden Park for the first time.

Miss Fletcher, a former Glenthorne School student, said. “Every doctor and nurse worked so hard to make my time at the Royal Marsden as easy as possible, and I wanted to do something back to say thank you.”

The race will take place on September 18, almost a year since she was declared free of cancer She was diagnosed after admittance to St Helier Hospital for a pelvic infection. She said: “When tests confirmed my fears my family were shocked but it was a relief to me to finally know what it was and that there was something that could be done to make me well.”

She went through six months of two-week chemotherapy sessions, all the while receiving support from her family, including her father Jeremy, with whom she lives; her sister Joanne, 24; and her mom, Heike, who lives in Germany but visited her regularly.

Miss Fletcher, who lives near St Helier station, is now inviting women from all backgrounds to deck themselves out in pink and come down to help raise money to fight the disease.

The Pretty Muddy race features a range of obstacles – including scramble nets, tunnels, hurdles, and a giant inflatable slide – along a pre-set 5k or 10k course.

It is open to those aged 13 and over.

Dearbhla Cormacain, Cancer Research UK’s London events manager, said: “We hope as many women as possible will rope-in their friends and family and help swell the ranks of Race for Life’s pink army.”

Morden Park Pretty Muddy takes place on September 18 from 10am at Morden Park, London Road.

The entry fee is £19.99 for adults and £10 for girls under 16. To enter Race for Life today go to raceforlife.org or call 0300 123 0770.