A woman who was diagnosed with breast cancer just weeks after signing up for the Race for Life will be among the thousands tackling the 5km course on Sunday.

Hayley Coleman faces a year of treatment, including a double mastectomy, following the shock diagnosis in February.

But Mrs Coleman, 31, is determined to go the distance and make it to the finish line despite the debilitating effects of chemotherapy.

She will be joined by her best friend and colleague at Gorleston police station, Kirsty Hill, 33, after the pair signed up for the run as something fun to do together earlier in the year.

Mrs Coleman, who lives with her husband Simon in Oulton Broad, said she was passionate about encouraging people check themselves for changes in their bodies as well as raising money for the charity that supports sufferers and funds research into cures and treatments.

She was also keen that the Louise Hamilton Centre at Gorleston's James Paget hospital benefits from her fundraising, hailing the comfort and companionship of Cancervive, a group for women aged 30 to 40 who have been affected by cancer.

Being diagnosed with the disease after putting her name down for the run made the experience a lot more meaningful, she said.

She is currently undergoing chemotherapy every three weeks with a two-week break.

Soon she will have a double mastectomy followed by immediate reconstruction and possible radiotherapy.

However, her spirit is undimmed and as well as the run she is also planning to raise funds and awareness with a calendar featuring 11 other women.

She said she expected the day to be 'really emotional', adding: 'I am really looking forward to it. It will be lovely to be with all the other women who are going through something similar. I am a bit of a fighter. Cancer has messed with the wrong woman.'

Donate online by visiting the Just Giving site and searching for Hayley Coleman.