FUNDRAISERS across Bury got together to fight cancer by completing the Race for Life at Heaton Park, Prestwich, at the weekend.

The annual charity event was split over the Saturday and Sunday, with more than 9,000 women taking on the five and 10k routes for Cancer Research UK. It is hoped it will raise about £550,000 for the charity.

Among those taking part on Saturday morning was Carolyn Hall from Whitefield, who was the day’s special guest.

The mother-of-two was diagnosed with breast cancer two years ago when her youngest daughter was just four-years-old.

She has since made a recovery after undergoing a mastectomy and reconstructive surgery as well as chemotherapy.

The 42-year-old said: “What an honour. I absolutely love Race for Life. It means so much to me that all these women are coming together in the fight against cancer.”

The special guest on Sunday morning was Leanne Keane, from Bury, who lost her father Peter Gaunt to cancer just over two years ago and was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma herself just months later.

The 33-year-old has now been given the all clear after undergoing chemotherapy, but still needs regular check-ups.

Staff from Ribblesdale Medical Practice, in Knowsley Street, Bury, took part and raised more than £700.

Dr Cheryl Britton, one of the doctors at the practice, said the charity is close to all their hearts, as they often see first hand the the impact of cancer on lives.

She said: “The Ribblesdale team are proud to have completed the Race for Life and for raising a fantastic sum for the charity, and we would like to say a huge thank you to all our sponsors.”

A team from Bury-based Pennine Telecom also took part, and have so far raised £1,132, smashing their original target of £350. They are still accepting donations on their JustGiving page www.justgiving.com/Pennine-Panthers-Race-For-Life.

Many of the seven-strong group — the Pennine Panthers — had family members who had died or been affected by cancer.

Administrator Ruth Hayes said: “I’d like to dedicate my run to my precious dad. He didn’t pass away from cancer but was taking part in a trial for prostate cancer when he died. I thought that if he could do something for a cancer charity then so could I.”

Carrie Murphy, Cancer Research UK’s Heaton Park events manager, said, the charity was thrilled with the numbers who attended.

She said: “More people, like our special guests Carolyn and Leanne, are surviving cancer than ever before. But while we’re heading in the right direction, too many lives are still being lost to the disease.

“Sadly, most of us know someone whose life has been touched by cancer and this really brings home how much more work there is to do.

“Our aim is that one day everyone will beat cancer. The more research we can fund, the sooner that day will come.”

  • lDonations can still be made by visiting justgiving.com/ribblesdale-practice