MOTHER Tracey Barker, who survived a rare form of cancer, will meet royalty at the opening of a restored Victorian park today.

Princess Anne will open Saltwell Park, in Gateshead, following a £10m restoration project by Gateshead Council.

Ms Barker, 30, will represent thousands of women who visit the park each year to take part in Cancer Research UK's Race for Life.

The civil servant, from Redshank Close, Washington, Wearside, said: "I owe my life to research so taking part in Cancer Research UK's Race for Life at Saltwell Park each year is very important to me."

Cancer Research UK's Race for Life, supported by Tesco, is a series of women-only 5km fundraising walks or runs. Race for Life has taken place at Saltwell Park for the past four years.

Ms Barker was diagnosed with neuroblastoma, a rare form of cancer, three weeks before her 21st birthday.

She was treated with an intense form of chemotherapy at Newcastle's Royal Infirmary.

Only two weeks before she was due to marry her husband, Kevin, 41, she was told she had the hormone levels of a 60-year-old women and would need fertility treatment and egg donation to have a baby.

But, she amazed doctors again when she gave birth to her son, Jake, five years ago.

Ms Barker said: "We see Jake as our miracle baby. If it wasn't for the kind of research funded by Cancer Research UK, I wouldn't be here today."

She has taken part in three Race for Life events at Saltwell Park.

Next year's race is on Sunday, May 21.