Racing to be friends

ANN Harrison will never forget Christmas 2002. Instead of looking forward to the festivities surrounded by her family and friends, she was facing the bleakest moment of her life. Two weeks before Christmas she discovered a lump in her armpit. Her doctor sent her for tests, which confirmed her worst fears. She had cancer.

Ann, who is a qualified nurse, was worried because the cancer was secondary and a mammogram had failed to show where the primary tumour might be.

However, the doctors believed Ann had breast cancer and moved swiftly to remove the lymph nodes in her armpit and put her through a gruelling regime of chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

"It was terrible," reveals Ann, 50, of Upper Poppleton, York. "I lost all my hair and felt very sick all the time."

Her husband Roy and family were a tower of strength. But the unsung hero was best friend Beryl Rendall - affectionately known as Bez.

"Bez has been there all the time for me," says Ann. "Some people give you a wide berth when you are ill because they can't handle it. But Bez was on my wave length.

"She was always there for me. She'd phone me for a chat, come and see me when I didn't have the confidence to go out or didn't want to go out. And when I did feel better, she got me out of the house.

"You need somebody like that to say 'let's go to the Lavender Farm' and make you get out."

That is why Ann nominated Beryl in our Find York's Best Friend competition, to tie in with Race For Life, the 5km (three mile) run/walk around Knavesmire in aid of cancer research, which is supported by the Evening Press and takes place next week.

The pair met 14 years ago at a doctor's surgery in Poppleton, where Ann was a nurse and Beryl the receptionist.

Last year, Beryl did Race For Life - Ann was too poorly to cheer her on, but vowed to join her this year.

So the pair have signed up to take part in the event next Wednesday evening. As our competition winners, they have won a two-night spa break at Springs resort in Leicestershire, which will include a facial, full-body massage and relaxation classes.

They have also won the right to wear the No 1 and No 2 race numbers at next week's Race For Life.

There is just one hitch. Beryl has fractured her foot and will be waving Ann on from the sidelines.

Ann, who will be wearing a pink Race For Life survivor's hat during the event, said: "I'm sure Beryl will manage to hobble down to support me."

Ann, who describes her experience of cancer in terms of a 'journey' rather than a 'battle', said she would be completing Race For Life to raise the profile of cancer self-help groups.

"A big part of being a victim is having contact with other people who know what you are going through," she said.

And she hopes to raise at least £100 in sponsorship money.

"Race For Life is an excellent thing and a good way to raise people's awareness and make lots of money for research into cancer. I'm looking forward to my first year - and many more, I hope."

Beryl said she felt tearful when Ann told her about their competition win and read out the draft of the letter she had sent to the Evening Press to nominate her.

Beryl, 61, of York, said: "I just wanted to be there for her. I had no idea I was saying the right things.

"So often I went home feeling frustrated because I felt I couldn't do anything, so to know that I was helping her so much, I found that really moving."

Race For Life, which starts at Knavesmire, next Wednesday at 7.30pm, is set to the most successful yet.

Organisers expect the York race to reach a capacity of 5,500 entrants - almost 1,000 more than last year. This should put them on target to raise £270,000 - which would be another event record for York.

Tell us your race stories

ARE you taking part in Race For Life and have a good story to tell? Perhaps there is a group of you gearing up for the event? Contact newsdesk: 01904 653051 or email: newsdesk@ycp.co.uk

Updated: 09:26 Tuesday, July 06, 2004