Darwen woman's ‘return sponsor money’ appeal (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Darwen woman's ‘return sponsor money’ appeal

7:00pm Friday 19th October 2012 in News

A DARWEN woman who lost her mother to cancer is calling on everyone who took part in Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life to return their sponsorship money.

Last year, a third of the women who took part in Race for Life failed to return any cash.

Now an appeal has been made by Susan Berry, 54, who took part in the Blackburn event for the fourth time and raised £130 in memory of mum Susan Adam, who died of oesophageal cancer in November aged 74.

Susan’s cousin, Roberta McCartney, died of cervical cancer aged 35, and her grandmother, Susan Campbell died of the disease in her 50s.

But Susan’s great-aunt, Jessie Brown, now 90, is a long-term breast cancer survivor who had a double mastectomy 20 years ago.

Susan said: “Seeing my great aunt survive has shown me that people do survive cancer – it is not a death sentence. I just want to make sure more people survive by raising money for Cancer Research UK.”

Race for Life manager for Blackburn Sharon Hurst said she hoped as much of the £90,000 pledged would be returned.