Racecourse turns pink for Race for Life
Cheltenham racecourse was a sea of pink as nearly 4,000 women and girls from across Gloucestershire tackled the 5km Race for Life course to raise money for Cancer Research UK.
And one woman got a head-start, setting off at 8am.
Anna Davies was allowed to walk the course with her chocolate Labrador Wispa, who saved her life.
Anna, 38, only discovered the lump in her breast when two-year old Wispa jumped up on her and Anna felt some tenderness where he had touched her.
The mother of two from Teddington said: “It's not something they normally do. It's a one-off.
“I made a conscious effort I was going to do it. I've done the Race for Life before but I never thought I'd be doing it for myself.”
Since being diagnosed Anna has undergone chemotherapy and radiotherapy and will be finishing a course of herceptin this month.
Another inspiring figure was seven-year-old Megan Lambert.
The youngster who has recovered from neuroblastoma after a year's course of chemotherapy proudly led the race off.
The Severnbanks Primary School pupil who was diagnosed with her illness as an 18-month-old said: “It's lovely to be well again.”
Her mum Nicola, 39, added: “Doing Race for Life is Megan's special day. This is the second year she has taken part. We will walk because Megan likes to take her time and talk to people.”
Nurses from Cheltenham General Hospital's Dixton Ward ran together for personal and professional reasons.
Lynn Sibley, 60, a retired nurse who lives in Toddington and her daughter Ann Newman, 32, who works at the hospital were running in memory of Lynn's mother, and her in laws, all of whom died from cancer.
Ann's colleagues Nicole Harriott, 21, from Bishop's Cleeve, and Traci Stacey, 44, who lives in Tewkesbury, were running for two of Nicole's uncles, being treated for cancer and Traci's mother, cousins and three friends who died from the disease.
Ann said: “As nurses we also see cancer patients at work and we know how difficult it can be, so if we can help prevent more deaths that's great.”
Inspiring the runners and walkers was TV presenter Sarah Greene .
She said: “I'm a walker, but I know to do it in wellies and bare legs. When I fell out of the sky 20 years ago I was wonderfully looked after at Cheltenham General.
“When Race for Life started in 1994 the survival rate for breast cancer was 50 per cent. Now it's 80 per cent. Do the maths, what will it be in 20 years time? But it will only get better if we raise the money because research costs so much.”
Organiser Natasha Russell said: “If everyone gets their sponsorship money in we should raise £278, 000.”
on your marks: Megan Lambert (in blue jerkin) started the race
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