A RUNNER from Westbury had special reasons for competing in the Bath Half Marathon.

More than 5,000 people took part in the annual event, which was on Sunday and started by celebrity vet Trude Mostue.

Organisers said it was one of the most successful marathons yet. Breast cancer sufferer Vanessa Kite, 38, raised £3,300 for the Royal United Hospital in Bath. She crossed the line in two hours eight minutes.

"It was really good but I feel quite stiff now," she said.

"I ran with three friends and my family were scattered around the course to offer words of encouragement."

Mrs Kite's sponsorship will help buy a second £70,000 ultrasound scanner for the breast unit. This will reduce the amount of time women have to wait for diagnosis.

She has received dona-tions from local people including £250 from a man who raised money instead of presents for his 60th birthday and £200 from a vicar whose wife had breast cancer.

Mrs Kite said: "I'm staggered by people's generosity and I really appreciate it.

"It has just made me feel that all that training in dreadful conditions was worth it."

The mother of two, of Rudge, near Westbury, was diagnosed with breast cancer in May 2000.

A lump was removed and she was given the all clear in June 2001.

Then in November she discovered another lump in the same breast and opted for a double mastectomy.

"I'm really pleased that I can now give something back to the hospital," she said.

Mrs Kite will continue raising money and is planning to walk the London Marathon route in May.

She will be supporting both Breakthrough Breast Cancer and the Bristol Cancer Help Centre.