The flags were flying and champagne corks were popping in Templeton on Monday as local couple, Donna and Kevin Longhurst, were given a heroes welcome home to celebrate an inspirational marathon run.

Donna and Kevin crossed the London Marathon finishing line hand-in-hand on Sunday to honour a pledge they made when Donna was diagnosed with cancer five years ago.

Donna found out she had breast cancer just three days after competing in the 2005 event. She and Kevin vowed that, if she was still alive in five years' time, they would take part in the 2010 marathon side by side.

"The last five years have been tough, and there now isn't really any more new treatment I can be given," said Donna, "but I'm still here and always praying for a miracle.

"And if I'm still around in another five years, who knows, we might even do the marathon again!"

The couple have raised a staggering £20,500 through their pre-marathon fund-raising coffee morning and twmpath and sponsorship from businesses on their shirts.

The money will be shared between Macmillan Cancer Support and Pembrokeshire's Sandy Bears charity, which has provided huge support to the couple's eight-year-old daughter, Lowri, in coming to terms with her mum's illness.

"People's generosity has been mind-blowing; not only will the money help the two charities, but we hope it has also raised awareness," said Donna.

Donna and Kevin finished the marathon in seven hours 11 minutes, running for the first mile, but then settling down to a brisk walking pace for the remainder of the course, and they dedicated each mile to people they knew who have been touched by cancer.

Donna has undergone mastectomies, an hysterectomy and aggressive chemotherapy and last November embarked on a strict vegan diet in the latest bid to curb her cancer.

Donna feels the best she's felt in five years, and when she had a scan a few weeks ago, the results were exceptional.

"The tumour in my neck and in my lymph nodes had actually broken up, so something's working - whether it's the treatment or the diet," she said.

"We are absolutely over the moon that we did it, despite the blisters, and it was just a fantastic, amazing experience," continued Donna.

Donna and Kevin are now busy collecting in the remainder of their sponsorship, with donations still being accepted at http://www.donnandkevin.moonfruit.co.uk">www.donnandkevin.moonfruit.co.uk  

Donna is resting this week, but will be donning her trainers next weekend when she takes part in the Cancer Research UK Race for Life at Scolton Manor with her daughter Lowri.

Lowri, who anxiously watched Sunday's run on television to see if she could spot her mum and dad, has caught the marathon bug and is already planning to take part in the London event when she is 18!