A SOUTHEND student will take on a half marathon… months after discovering a potentially life-changing tumour.

Becky Farrell was just 15 when she found a lump on her shin which turned out to be a rare bone tumour.

She underwent major surgery at the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital, London, to remove the tumour and reconstruct her tibia with a bone graft and metal implants.

Sadly Becky, now 20, learned she had a second tumour after noticing a lump in her shin late last year.

Echo: Brave - Becky was diagnosed with a rare tumour at 15Brave - Becky was diagnosed with a rare tumour at 15 (Image: Becky Farrell)

This summer will see music student will be running the Bath Two Tunnels Half Marathon on June 4, before graduating from university and undergoing a second surgery which will “put [her] back to square one” with her mobility progress.

“With no guarantee of how well I will recover or how long it will take I am determined to take the most of my mobility whilst I can and do something positive for the charity that has supported me through this journey,” said Becky.

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Reflecting on her experience as a teenager, the 20-year-old added: “The diagnosis was really scary as I was at a pivotal point in my teenage years when I just wanted to be out enjoying life with my friends but instead, I was in a lot of pain with reduced mobility which at some points meant I couldn’t even walk to the bottom of my street without a walking stick - something which knocked my confidence greatly.”

Becky is hoping to raise at least £1,000 for the hospital which cared for her. This will help to fund improvements to the patient experience and clinical research.

Echo: Inspirational - Becky will run a half marathon before undergoing major surgeryInspirational - Becky will run a half marathon before undergoing major surgery (Image: Becky Farrell)

She added: “Although the recovery was not easy, the specialist knowledge, facilities, and care that RNOH provided me made my time as an inpatient as comfortable as possible and allowed me to have my life back.

“This is why I want to undertake this challenge, to say thank you for all its support. In the years following my surgery with the help of the rehabilitation team at RNOH I was able to take up running and even completed a 5k race which was a huge achievement at the time.”

To sponsor Becky visit justgiving.com/fundraising/beckyfarrellhalfmarathon.