ABOUT twelve thousand girls and women - including many from Lowestoft and Waveney - took part in the 13th Race for Life at near Norwich over the weekend to raising more than �800,000 for the fight against cancer.

ABOUT twelve thousand girls and women - including many from Lowestoft and Waveney - took part in the 13th Race for Life at near Norwich over the weekend to raising more than �800,000 for the fight against cancer.

The event, held on Saturday and Sunday at the Norfolk Showground, at Costessey, attracted runners of all ages from across the region who walked, jogged or ran a 5k or 10k course in aid of Cancer Research UK's lifesaving work.

Many were running in memory of friends, relatives or loved ones who they had lost to the disease.

Among those taking part on Saturday was Sue Mantripp, a business support co-ordinator with Suffolk County Council's safeguarding team at Clapham House in Lowestoft. She was joined by her daughter Lyndsey Mantripp, her sister Mandy Park and her niece Chelsea Thurston who all took part in the 5K run, together raising more than �700.

Sue said her reason for taking part was very personal one - having been diagnosed with breast cancer in 2008.

After having a lump successfully removed from her breast, she was then forced to return to hospital later in the year.

'This time I was told that it was the same again, cancer in a cyst but this time I would have to have my breast removed,' she said.

'This was the most awful thing I have ever had to tell anyone, especially my family and close friends, who were very upset. I went into hospital January 2009 to have a mastectomy and reconstruction. I was in there for eight days and when I finally could go home. I had to sleep sitting up and take it easy. I also had tests to see if it had spread into my lymph glands and fortunately it had not.

'I have been into hospital a couple of times since to be tidied up but I have come through it.'

Sue, who lives at Sycamore Avenue, Oulton Broad, said the race was an amazing experience.

'It is not until you do something like the Race for Life that you realise how serious it was and on the day I became very emotional. However, it was a brilliant day and I was very proud of myself. I jogged the whole 5k in 37 minutes with the help of my daughter.'

Also taking part in the event on Saturday were six Uniformed Services Level 3 (Year 1 and 2) students from Lowestoft College. They were joined by Paula Webster, Jude Parr and Liz Davies who work at the college. They are set to raise around �200.

There are Suffolk Race for Life events at Chantry Park, Ipswich, on Sunday June 13 at 11am, Nowton Park, Bury St Edmunds, on Sunday June 27 at 11am and 2.30pm and at Trinity Park, Ipswich, on Wednesday, July 7 at 7.30pm.

To enter, long on to www.raceforlife.org or call 0871 641 1111.