By Sarah Newstead

Last updated at 14:20, Monday, 31 January 2011

Alison Sharpe is all too aware of how cruel cancer can be – and why research into it is so vital.

Alison Sharpe

Her father Les Rudd died five years ago from bladder and lung cancer.

“He was quite a fit gentleman who walked four or five miles every day. Going from that to seeing him in a wheelchair was hard. He was very brave,” she said.

A short time after her father passed away, the Workington woman’s mother and brother, 52-year-old Peter Rudd, were diagnosed with brain tumours.

“My mum’s was not cancerous, but Peter’s is.

“He had a seizure and we thought he was diabetic. He is still with us and is very brave, but they can’t do anything for him.

“Cancer is very cruel and it can happen to anybody. I know how important it is to keep research going.”

That is why she will be taking part in this year’s Carlisle Race For Life, in memory of her father and for her brother.

It is the second year that Alison, community champion at Workington’s Tesco store, will take part in the fundraiser.

She said: “It is very moving. I had a picture on my back of my dad last year and it was very moving to read people’s own messages and see the pictures on their backs.

“But I wouldn’t say it’s a sad event. There is a feeling that we are all trying to achieve something together.”

Alison is hoping more west Cumbrian women will join her at the event. Stagecoach has donated a double-decker bus for the day to transport women from Workington to Carlisle.

“We can make a difference,” she said. “Even if you just get £10 in sponsorship, along with the thousands of other women around the UK that makes a lot of money.

Alison added: “People in Cumbria are so very generous.”

In this year’s Race for Life, two five-kilometre runs are planned – one at 11am, the other at 3pm.

The 2011 event, sponsored by the News & Star, will be hosted from the stage by cnevents manager David McNeill who will be joined by CFM’s Robbie Dee.

Last year, around 4,000 women took part in the annual event around the Sheepmount.

Since the fundraising series started in 1994, 4.7 million participants across the UK have raised more than £327m to fund Cancer Research UK’s work.

This year also marks the 10th year that supermarket giant Tesco has supported the drive.

Women in Cumbria can enter Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life at www.raceforlife.org or by calling 0871 641 1111.

To find out how to join Alison’s bus from Workington, call her on 07547 898021.

Have you entered this year’s Race for Life? Have you run before in memory of a sufferer or are you a cancer survivor yourself? We want to hear your story. Contact reporter Sarah Newstead by email at sarah.newstead@cnmedia. co.uk or telephone 01228 612653.

First published at 11:40, Monday, 31 January 2011
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk