| May Rorrison (64) and daughter Justine Simpson (38) are urging women of all ages to sign up to walk, jog or run 5k at the event at Dundee’s Camperdown Park this summer.
The pair joined Cancer Research UK event manager Carolyn Johnston today to launch the event in the city.
Together they want to motivate mums, grans, sisters, daughters, friends and colleagues to book their places now for Dundee’s Race for Life on June 19.
The mother and daughter team have already signed up for the Race for Life challenge and are hopeful other women will now follow their lead.
May, who lives in the city’s William Street, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2000.
“I was devastated when I was diagnosed,” she said.
“I was convinced it was a death sentence. I kept thinking of all the special times I would miss, like seeing my grandchildren grow up.”
Happily, after early detection, May was treated successfully at Ninewells Hospital and is now cancer-free.
“I’m still here, and I’ve enjoyed ten years that, at one point, I thought I’d never have,” she said.
“Thankfully my cancer was caught early and after my surgery I didn’t need chemotherapy or radiotherapy.”
However the family’s cancer experience wasn’t over and in 2005 Justine also noticed a lump on her breast.
“After everything Mum had been through I was very alert to any changes, so when I discovered a lump I knew something wasn’t right,” Justine said.
“Thankfully I saw the same specialist who had dealt with Mum, and the treatment and care I got was fantastic.”
Justine, who lives in the Barnhill area, had surgery, followed by chemotherapy and today she is also healthy and cancer-free.
“It was a really worrying time,” said Justine.
“The chemotherapy was tough but thankfully the cancer was caught before it had the chance to spread.
“Thanks to research, I am still here.
“Success stories like mine would not be possible without the work of Cancer Research UK, which in turn relies on everyone who raises money through Race for Life.”
In 2009, 3619 women took part in Race for Life in Dundee and helped raise almost £200,000.
Carolyn Johnston encouraged women to participate in the fundraising event.
She said, “One-in-three people in the UK will be diagnosed with cancer at some stage in their lives.
“But the good news is that more people are beating the disease than ever before.
“Cancer Research UK’s work is at the heart of that progress. By helping to raise money through Race for Life, our supporters are turning hope into reality.”
Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life 2010 is the UK’s largest women-only fundraising event series.
Women in Dundee can enter at www.raceforlife.org or by calling 0871 641 1111. |
