A Plymouth Evening Herald columnist has won an international book prize.

Wendy Bray won the biography section at the Christian Book Awards 2002 for her book In the Palm of God's Hand, which shares her experiences of coping with a cancer diagnosis.

Wendy, (42), who writes the Evening Herald's Thank God It's Monday column, said she was "gobsmacked" to win.

She was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma, a cancer which develops in the body's immune system, in 1999.

She endured radiotherapy and chemotherapy and six weeks in isolation after a stem cell transplant.

Doctors will not say she is in remission as there is still a mass present behind her heart, although it is not active.

Her prize of £500, a set of books - to give to a local school or library - and a trophy, were presented by former Daily Telegraph editor Lord Deedes.

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