Southsea Common awash with pink as fundraisers raise £150,000 to fight cancer at Race for Life

Almost 1,900 people took part in Cancer Research UK’s 10km, 5km and 3km events to celebrate survivors and remember loved ones lost.

A whopping £152,000 was raised for life-saving research to help beat 200 types of cancer following the Tesco-sponsored event. These include forms such as bowel cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer, lung, testicular cancer, brain cancer, children’s cancers and leukaemia.     

Teressa Riddett, 45, was running in the 10km race in memory of her husband Girvan who died four years ago aged 59 from liver cancer. ‘He had no real symptoms apart from being tired and it was three months from diagnosis to when he died,’ she said.

‘It was very hard to explain to our nine-year-old daughter. I also lost my father-in-law to liver cancer so I’m running for both of them.’

Amelia Samways, 33, from near Eastleigh, was running in memory of her mum Andrea Samways, who died aged 54.

She said: ‘My mum had breast cancer which she beat but then died two years ago from Ovarian cancer. She had just got the all-clear when she got the ovarian cancer.

‘She had the breast cancer gene which we didn’t know about at the time. Me and my sister had to be tested but we got the all-clear.’

Amelia’s friend Kate Simpson, 32, added: ‘Andrea was lovely and couldn’t do enough for you.’

Army veteran Jason Conway from Southsea completed both the 10km and 3km whilst carrying a 50lb rucksack in honour of his sister, Laura Stevens, who was recently diagnosed with incurable cancer.

Jason said: ‘I’ve done Afghanistan and Iraq and so carrying this today was my way of mentally helping my sister face her diagnosis.

‘I did the 10km with it on my own then the 3km with my daughter, Avangeline and we’ve raised £2,000.’

There was also a military presence with ‘Arnie’s Army’ with over 20 men, women and children walking in support of six-month-old Arnie from Portsmouth.

Mum Chanel Little said: ‘Arnie was diagnosed with cancer at three-weeks-old after a scan revealed a mass in his pelvis. We found out he had neuroblastoma and he’s already had several rounds of chemo.’

Winner of the 10km race in 37 minutes and 12 seconds was Tom Scales, 41, of Southsea. He said: ‘It’s been a great event and amazing to see so many people turn out and raise so much money.’

Elisa Mitchell, Cancer Research UK’s spokeswoman, said: ‘The atmosphere across all events this weekend has been incredibly moving and we have encountered all emotions from courage to tears and laughter.

‘Everyone has a reason to take part and seeing the messages on peoples’ back signs show why we need to continue to fund research to give the best chance at beating cancer.

‘We’re asking everyone who took part to return the money they’re raised as soon as possible. Funds raised will help scientists find new ways to prevent, diagnose and treat cancer, helping save more lives.’

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