Race for Life – Your Stories

Kerensa Klottrup running in Portsmouth

“I am racing in memory of my Grandma, Peggy Middleton. She died in May last year having fought a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. I am running as a celebration of her life and the things she did for us, and also to give hope to other families.”

Kelly Martin running in High Wycombe

“Unfortunately cancer runs heavily in my family. I have lost two grandparents to cancer and one who has battled through it. Tragically, my partner lost his Mum to cancer three years ago and my Mum was diagnosed with the disease in January. Nick and I are getting married next year and we just pray at least one of our Mums will be at our wedding.

One in three of us get cancer which is scary. Sadly we will all lose people to this disease which sneaks into our lives and leaves devastation when it has finished. The doctors at Cancer Research are trying to come up with more ways in which we can treat cancer and hopefully be able to keep more families together. It has already saved my Grandad and hopefully, it will save my Mum. I am only 26 and my sister 21 and cannot face a life without her.

Taking part in Cancer Research has helped me to stay positive, I have raised over £400 so far. We all need to raise awareness and get our relatives to the doctors if something doesn't feel right. The doctor would much rather see you and it be nothing than you leave it too late - cancer waits for no-one.

I run in honour of all my family, especially for my beautiful Mummy - I love you so much.”

Claire Freer running in Cambridge

“My Mum was diagnosed with breast cancer over five years ago and over the past two years has been battling with secondary cancers. Mum has taken part in Race for Life and I wanted to make her proud too by taking part and raising lots of money for a great cause!“

Lesley de Jager running in Aberdeen

“All my life I have seen cancer destroy families. When I was 15 my brother's best friend Richard died of Leukaemia – he was just 16. A few months later Bridget, a close friend of my parents (her husband had been my best man at their wedding) was diagnosed with cervical cancer not long after giving birth to their first child. It spread throughout her body and she died a couple of years later, only in her early thirties, and leaving a devastated husband and toddler son behind.

A couple of years later my grandfather, who had always been very fit, suddenly became very ill. He was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and within a matter of weeks he had literally withered away and died in 2002. In 2005 my in-laws were visiting us, staying in our spare room when my father-in-law had a fit in his sleep. He was rushed to hospital in an ambulance and we were told he had suffered a stroke. A couple of months later further tests revealed a brain tumour the size of a peach. It was inoperable and he died just before Easter 2006.

Most recently my Mum's oldest and closest friend Janice died this year of a rare kind of lymphoma after a long battle. She leaves her husband and three children, the youngest of which is still in school. I have seen so many people taken early by this cruel disease, that is why I Race for Life.”