A Falmouth mother who has survived breast cancer will be starting the Race for Life in the town this morning.

At 11am Sally Hicks-Wood, aged 49, will set 1,475 women on their way on the 5km route from Gyllyngvase Beach Car Park and along to seafront to raise money for research into cancer.

Many participants are cancer survivors or are running in memory or celebration of a loved one whose life has been touched by cancer. Sally will be taking part in the event for the third time with close friends and work colleagues.

The mum-of-two, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2009. She found a lump purely by chance, had it checked straight away and tests revealed Sally had aggressive cancer that had spread to all her lymph nodes.

She needed a mastectomy followed by chemotherapy and radiotherapy as well as Herceptin infusions for a year.

Sally said: “I feel so lucky to have survived breast cancer and this year is such a special year for me. I turn 50 in June, my wonderful son gets married in August and my daughter starts university, and my husband Colin is taking me on a Caribbean cruise with my best friend of 35 years Kim and her husband Steve.

“I’m taking part in Race for Life because I really want to give something back as it’s thanks to research that I am still here today. Success stories like mine would not be possible without the work of Cancer Research UK, which in turn relies on everyone who raises money through Race for Life.”

Falmouth Race for Life is the first in this year’s Cornwall calendar which includes events in Penzance, Wadebridge and Truro.

Organisers are hoping that participants at the Falmouth event will raise £93,555.

There’s still time to sign up to take part in Race for Life at Penzance, Wadebridge and Truro.

Last year 6,660 women took part in the four Cornish Race for Life events and helped raise £261,462 for Cancer Research UK.

  • For full coverage of the Falmouth event, including pages of pictures and the name of every person taking part see next Wednesday’s Packet.