THE teenage daughters of a York garage owner who has incurable cancer today pleaded with charity bosses to let them pay tribute to their dad - by entering the city's Race For Life.

Heather and Laura Hutchinson were devastated when their dad, Robert, 49, was diagnosed with inoperable prostate cancer in February.

Robert, who owns the Ren-o-man garage, in Toft Green, is taking tablets and medication to suppress the disease.

Heather, 17, and Laura, 16, decided the ideal way to help their stricken dad would be to enter York Race For Life, which takes place at York Racecourse on Wednesday, starting at 7.30pm.

But such is the phenomenal success of the fundraising race, which celebrates its tenth running this year, that entries were all snapped up weeks ago.

Mum Pat says entering the Race For Life would be a way of helping the girls come to terms with their dad's illness.

Race For Life bosses have confirmed that the York event is full, but organisers said they were looking at doing everything they could to try to find space for Heather and Laura.

Pat, of Cliffe, near Selby, said: "It was very hard when we learned of Robert's cancer. Everyone was very upset. Laura is doing her GCSEs and Heather is preparing for her A-Levels.

"We have told the girls everything and it was a terrible shock. It was Heather's idea to take part in the Race for Life and I think it is her way of coming to terms with what has happened.

"We are all trying to do the best we can at the moment and I think competing in the Race for Life would really help.

"Everyone has been absolutely fantastic, the doctors and all of the nurses on Ward 12 and Ward 12A at York Hospital.

"The girls want to give something back. They have raised quite a lot of sponsorship and there is more coming."

If they can take part, the girls will wear Newcastle United football shirts as their dad is a fanatical Magpie supporter.

Rob said: "I am very proud of my daughters. All of this has come as a complete surprise to me. You do appreciate things a lot more than you used to."

In 2003, more than 4,600 mothers, daughters, sisters and friends took part in the York Race For Life, raising £235,000.

A Race For Life spokesman said: "This is a heartbreaking story. We have been a victim of our own success and the Race For Life has been massive for us.

"Although the race is full, we will be looking at a range of options to allow these girls to take part. For everyone else, although the race is full people can still get involved and raise cash for research into cancer."

Updated: 10:34 Friday, July 09, 2004