SCHOOL staff were so determined to take part in a Race for Life, they organised their own version when the official race became booked up.

Female teachers at Darwen Vale Community High School had hoped to enter tomorrow's Race for Life 2005 at Witton Park, Blackburn, but were told the 5km road race was full and no more entries were being accepted.

Instead, they decided to organise their own version of the national event, which raises money for Cancer Research UK, and some of the male members of staff joined them.

More than 50 members of staff at the school, in Blackburn Road, took part in their own race through Witton Park at the weekend and first over the finishing line was business studies teacher David Turner.

The runners were sponsored for the event and when the money has been collected it will go to the main Cancer Research UK appeal.

Their feat was even more impressive since many of them had only just recovered from an hour-long Step for Life class held the previous evening.

Headteacher Lynn Dunning, who also took part, said: "Our fundraising activities are an integral part of school life, enabling staff and pupils to work together for a particular cause. I am very proud of all that our school community has achieved for such a wide variety of charities."

Throughout the last academic year, staff and pupils have pulled out all the stops to raise £3,500 for a variety of local and national charities.

There are 162 official Race for Life events being held across the UK to raise awareness of breast cancer and to boost funds for Cancer Research UK.

The national fundraiser began in 1994 and is the UK's biggest women-only fundraising event.