Walk this way

WHEN the organisers of the successful Race For Life event decided to launch a new sponsored walk also in aid of cancer research, York mum Morag Crudge was among the first to pledge her support.

Morag and her five-year-old daughter Hannah will be taking part in a ten-kilometre - about six-mile - walk in York to raise money for research into breast cancer.

The event is called Stride For Life and has been organised by the Imperial Cancer Research Fund, which each year organises the Race For Life five-kilometre sponsored run on York Knavesmire.

Last May, almost 3,000 women took part in the York Race For Life and raised £130,887 - almost £50,000 more than the previous year. Seventy other such races took place across Britain, which organisers believe should raise about £12 million for research into cancers that affect women.

It is hoped as many people as possible will sign up for Stride For Life, which has been planned to coincide with Breast Cancer Awareness month, which begins today.

The York event is one of 12 Stride For Life walks taking place at different locations across Britain throughout October.

And unlike Race For Life, which is for women only, Stride For Life is open to men too and it is hoped it will be a popular event for all the family.

The York walk will kick off at noon on Sunday, October 21 at Rawcliffe Bar Country Park, by the Park and Ride site.

Morag, of Heworth, decided to take part after spotting entry forms at Bettys tea rooms, where she works part time.

Her mother, Peggy, successfully recovered from breast cancer - mainly because she acted quickly and sought medical help after finding a lump.

Morag said: "The reason we are doing the walk is to make people aware how common breast cancer is and if you do something about it early you have a much better chance of surviving."

Her mother had a biopsy and mastectomy within four weeks of discovering a lump about the size of half a walnut in her breast. By the time it was removed, the lump was the size of an egg.

"It was a shock how much it had grown in size in just three weeks," recalls Morag. "But she was told they had caught it in time and it had not spread to her lymph glands so she did not need any chemotherapy."

That was 14 years ago and Peggy is fighting fit today. She will be coming to York from her home in Morpeth, near Newcastle, to support Morag and Hannah in their sponsored walk. Morag hopes her mother's story will help other women facing breast cancer.

"When you hear the words breast cancer people can think it's a death sentence. But if you check your breasts regularly and go to the doctor early enough, it can be a success story."

The Stride For Life route will begin at Rawcliffe Bar Country Park and follow the River Ouse into York, veering through the Museum Gardens, across the river and back along the bankside to the country park.

Organiser Helen Gill said the event would be a fun day out for all the family.

"There will be a carnival atmosphere with many other activities running throughout the day, including entertainment for all ages, food and drinks stalls, music, an aerobics warm-up and fitness tests," she said.

Minster FM will be hosting a road show and there will also be a bouncy castle and face painting.

People are being encouraged to enter a team for the walk. Entry fees are £6 for adults, £3 for children under 16. Stride For Life T-shirts are available for £10.

For the daredevils out there, the charity is also organising a sponsored abseil, with the nearest taking place in Sheffield on the weekend of October 13-14.

For more information about these fundraising events or on how to enter, call the hotline on 0870 161 1600 or visit the website: www.imperialcancer.co.uk

People will also be able to enter on the day of the event.

Organisers hope at least 10,000 people will take part in the 12 Stride For Life walks and raise £500,000 for breast cancer research.

And if it is a success, Stride For Life could become an annual event - and give the Race For Life a run for its money.