A TEAM of athletic dinner ladies will be swapping the canteen for the running track to raise money for a cancer charity.

The six friends, from Hob Moor Junior School in Acomb, are to run the Race for Life in memory of their colleague, Christine Buckland.

Christine, 48, an assistant cook at the school, died of cancer, and the kitchen and dining room staff wanted to remember her by raising money for a cancer charity.

They chose to run the women's Race for Life, which will be held at Knavesmire on May 21, and raises money for the Imperial Cancer Research Fund.

Margaret Spainer, assistant cook, said the runners were hoping to raise hundreds of pounds.

And she admitted the team were taking a novel approach to their race preparation.

"I've been swimming three times a week and one girl plays netball - but we've all been walking up and down the canteen and round the playground as well.

"The children think we've gone mad!

"I don't know if we'll get through it or not - I think we'll egg each other on."