A group of friends from South Derbyshire have been getting physical going the extra mile to raise thousands of pounds for charity. Members of the team has raised a whopping £44,000 for Cancer Research UK in their Relay for Life fund-raising campaign.
Stef Morgan, 28, joined forces with her friends and family to complete the gruelling 24-hour event in memory of her aunt, Jackie Meades, who died just three weeks prior.
Joining Stef were Jackie’s daughter, Charlotte, Karen Bailey and her husband Peter and Janet Potter along with her husband John. The event is a year-round team fund-raising challenge bringing communities together to beat cancer.
More than 50 of the events happen across the UK, with still more happening around the world.
Miss Morgan, from Swadlincote, said: “My grandma had breast cancer 25 years ago and my auntie passed away from cancer three weeks ago. We were all so impressed by her daughter, Charlotte; she was so strong and did very well.”
The team, called Dancing with Karen for Mrs Bailey’s dance school, headed down to Shobnall Leisure Complex on July 8 for the 24-hour event.
The event started with a Survivors’ Lap of Honour, as cancer survivors walk the first lap of the course to cheers and support from the crowd, before the race begins.
Fund-raisers can run, walk, jog or skip around the track, with the only rule being that one member of the team must be on the track at all time for the 24-hour period.
The fund-raisers have been running events all year to raise money for the charity, including a Strictly-style contest last November where professional and newbie dancers took to the stage to show their skills.
Support worker Stef stayed awake for the whole event, along with her mum Tracey Fradley, who took part in the event in another team. She said: “Most people slept at some point through the event, but we were determined to stay awake the whole time.”
The money raised by the team will go towards lifesaving research and support for people battling cancer.
What is Cancer Research UK?
Cancer Research UK is an awareness charity launched in 2002, which aims to reduce the number of deaths caused by cancer.
It is the world’s largest cancer research charity and conducts research into prevention diagnosis and treatment of the disease.
More than 40,000 people volunteer on a regular basis for the charity, and hundreds of charity events take place every year to raise money, including Race for Life, Pretty Muddy and Stand Up To Cancer.
