A BLIND marathon competitor has died after losing her battle with cancer.

Sally Smith, of Croydon Road, Beckenham, had been fighting the illness since 2000 when she was diagnosed with breast cancer.

This cancer had spread to the 62-year-old's bones by 2004 when she was given permission to walk the London Marathon route in three days to raise money for Cancer Research and a cancer centre in Bedford. She raised more than £11,000.

Her oldest daughter Angela, 32, said: "She always put others before herself despite her difficulties.

"She was an extremely popular lady and very well known."

Mrs Smith leaves behind her husband Mike, 64, three children and three grandchildren. Her funeral was held at St John's Church, Eden Park Avenue, Beckenham, on Friday.