A runner is preparing to take part in the London Marathon despite undergoing treatment for breast cancer.

Jo Franz, of Backwell, was planning to take part in the 26-mile event last year but was diagnosed with cancer the day before she received confirmation of her place.

She deferred her marathon place for a year and will run later this month, even though she is still taking herceptin and will be taking part alongside her partner Andrew Firetto.

Ms Franz, 36, continued to run throughout her treatment and completed more than eight events including the Bristol, Bath and Stroud half marathons and the Pensford 10k – even when she was undergoing chemotherapy.

She said: "I have done lots of half marathon and 10k runs and was up to marathon standard and was definitely going to be running last year, but unfortunately was diagnosed with cancer.

"I wasn't sure what I was more gutted about. I think that because I was at my fittest it was a real shock to be told I had cancer when I felt so well.

"I ran the Bristol 10k right at the end of my chemotherapy and found that difficult.

"Jane Tomlinson inspired me. I read both her books and reading what she did gave me the motivation to go out and continue running."

Ms Franz, a former bar manager, had noticed a lump in her right breast but thought nothing of it and only mentioned it to her GP in passing in November 2007.

She said: "Even the doctor didn't think it was anything, but sent me to the one-stop clinic."

A biopsy at the Bristol Royal Infirmary revealed that she had a grade three tumour.

Mr Firetto, 45, said: "Jo took it on the chin when we were told while I nearly fell off my chair. I fell to pieces."

Ms Franz, of The Briars, said: "I think when that happens you find a strength. It is shocking when you find out about other people with cancer but when it is you, you can be strong and think it doesn't have to be the end of the world."

Jo had a lumpectomy just before Christmas, followed by chemotherapy and said the staff at the BRI made her feel safe.

She said: "I am coming to the end of a course of herceptin that I have had to take for a year. There are just five sessions left.

"Apart from that, I feel much better now. My hair has grown back and that makes me feel much more normal."

Ms Franz is running for St Peter's Hospice because she wanted to support a local charity and Andrew's father and uncle were both helped by the charity.

Mr Firetto, of Stoke Bishop, owns Giovanni's restaurant at Temple Gate and ran the marathon for Breakthrough Breast Cancer last year and will be supporting the charity again this year.

Once they have completed the London Marathon, the couple hope to take part in more major marathons.

Ms Franz said: "I want to run in Berlin because my father was German. He passed away two years ago and I want to go back to his fatherland.

"Andrew's dad was Italian so we want to do Rome and then there is New York."

Ms Franz has been training at David Lloyd Fitness Club, after they offered her free membership for three months to help with the run.

Click here to sponsor Jo or Andrew.