Runners unite for special cause

The colourful pink banners pinned to the backs of thousands of women tell tales of courage, tragedy and hope.

They are the simple but poignant tributes to loved ones lost but also to those who have been saved.

It’s why Race for Life is a day of mixed emotions but one which is blanketed in the most resounding positivity. Even those who will shed a tear for the people who are now gone, know they are doing something to help beat a disease which has already claimed far too many lives.

And in Shropshire, Race for Life has captured the imagination of those who want to make a difference. It started with just one annual race at Telford Town Park but, with growing demand from women wanting to take part, organisers now stage three events in Shropshire.

Two will take place this weekend in Telford with another race planned in Shrewsbury in July.

Again ladies will line up all with their own reasons for wanting to raise much needed cash for Cancer Research UK and to remember why it’s so important to do so.

The pink banners pinned to backs bearing such messages as “For my Dad who passed away last year I Love you and Miss You” have become an integral part of the day.

For many of those taking part, it is a fitting tribute. That’s exactly how Amanda Martin feels after losing two very dear friends to cancer.

Her best friend, Fiona, had skin cancer, which she’s certain that she developed after holidaying in this country with Amanda.

She had a mole removed from her back, but after a year it was discovered to have spread to her lymph glands. She died only months later at just 21 years of age.

Almost four years ago, another friend of Amanda’s, Marg (Margaret), lost a three-year battle. She had a tumour on her spinal cord and was in her mid-forties when she passed away, leaving two young daughters and her husband.

“It was devastating to lose both friends but this feels like I am doing something positive to help and to raise awareness,” said Amanda, from Ketley Grange, Telford.

She took part last year with daughter Sophie, aged 12 and, again, they will be tackling the race this year.

“Sophie is really keen to do it. She didn’t know Fiona but she can remember Marg and I think she wants to be part of something that can help people.”

Charlotte Holyland helped her best friend Natalie through the heartache when her mum was diagnosed with a non-Hodgkins lymphoma in 1998/99 after finding a lump in her neck and was under the care of the haematologist.

“She had flu-like symptoms and bruising on her wrists so further tests were done which confirmed that she had Burkitt’s lymphoma,” said Charlotte.

” She was given intensive courses of chemotherapy at RSH and had a stem cell transplant at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham. She was in remission for about three weeks before the cancer returned in her cervix and she passed away in August 2000. Race for life raises money which can directly do something to stop people having to go through this much suffering.”

Up until 2006, Jen Hawkins had not seen cancer touch her family but since then she admits it feels as if they have been “fighting a long and often losing battle” against the disease.

“In April 2006 my uncle was diagnosed with lung cancer. He died in December almost eight months to the day of diagnosis. He was only 55 and only told his wife and my dad, his brother. He didn’t want to be treated differently or pitied and wanted to live a normal life for as long as possible.

“He accepted all the treatment, had chemo and radiotherapy, the steroids he took made him put on weight and look quite well. My gran, his mother, only found out the day he died that he had cancer. Shortly before he died we found out that my great uncle, my gran’s brother, also had cancer. It had started in his prostate and spread to his spine and was terminal. He too fought a valiant battle against cancer but sadly lost his fight the week after I took part in last year’s Race for Life.

“Early in 2007 my auntie, my mum’s sister, was diagnosed with breast cancer. She had a mastectomy and is now recovering well. In April 2007 my partner’s father was diagnosed with lung cancer. He died last November. My brother’s mother-in-law was diagnosed last month with breast cancer, she too has had a mastectomy and will hopefully make a good recovery.

“Up until 2006 my family hadn’t been affected by cancer. Since then it feels like we’ve been fighting a long and often losing battle.

“I took part in Race for Life to make a difference. I felt helpless and wanted to do something positive to make a difference.

“Every step I took I rejoiced that I could do so and thought of those no longer able to, making me more determined to try to help prevent others going through the nightmares and pain that cancer causes. I’m glad to be able to do it again this year.”

Shropshire Star reporter Rhea Parsons, 27, of Castlefields, Shrewsbury, and her mum Trish, 52, of Copthorne will also be taking part in the county town race to support Rhea’s aunt and Trish’s sister Rita Maight, who is battling cancer.

“We wanted to do something to show my auntie that we support her in her fight. She lives near London but came up recently and we took her for a day out in Ironbridge as she loves Shropshire,” said Rhea.

“We will probably be walking the route as mum damaged her achilles tendon recently but we will be raising as much money as we can because it is ever such a good cause.

“Mum works in the breast cancer screening unit at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital so the cause is very close to her heart and we will be doing the race for everyone who suffers from the disease and not just those who we know.”