I beat cancer ... and now I want to help others do the same

Angela Paterson survived cancer – and as a tribute to the people who supported her through her diagnosis and treatment she has signed up for the Race for Life.

The 42-year-old is urging other women to join her at the Cancer Research UK event on June 6.

“It’s perfect for women of all ages and fitness levels – you can walk, jog or run 5k at the event in Glasgow city centre,” says Angela, who teamed up with her friends from local running club Jogging Buddies and event manager Olivia MacLean to kick-start recruitment this week.

Together, they want to motivate mums, grans, sisters, daughters, friends and colleagues to book their places now for Glasgow’s Race for Life on Sunday, June 6.

And the Evening Times will also be there, promoting our new Glas-goals campaign aimed at tackling Glasgow’s poor health record.

Glas-goals has set three targets for the city’s population: to walk, or run, one million miles; to stub out a million cigarettes; and shed 500,000lbs in weight.

We will be getting involved with established events such as the Women’s 10k, Sport Relief and the Great Scottish Run.

We are also planning a series of new events, with the emphasis on fun participation for all ages.

The Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life 2010 is the UK’s largest women-only fundraising event series, where all the money raised goes to fund the charity’s life-saving work.

Every day around 74 Scots are told they have cancer. When Race for Life started in 1994 many people diagnosed with cancer did not survive.

But over the last 16 years, money generated by Race for Life has supported Cancer Research UK’s work and now the overall death rate for the disease has dropped 15%. This means thousands of people now survive and are able to enjoy special moments with their loved ones.

I was devastated when I was diagnosed with cancer. My mum died from the disease when she was 45, so I always knew it was possible I would get it one day

Angela Paterson

Angela Paterson, from Renfrew, is one of those survivors. She was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2005, and was treated successfully with a mastectomy, followed by chemotherapy.

Now Angela, who has already signed up for the Glasgow Race for Life, is encouraging other women to follow her lead.

She said: “I was devastated when I was diagnosed with cancer. My mum died from it when she was 45, so I always knew it was possible I might get it one day.

“Thankfully, I found out about the cancer before it spread, so my treatment was a success. However, it was a really difficult time for all my family and I am so grateful for the support I got that helped me get through it.

“Thanks to this support, and continued scientific research, I am still here. I am so grateful for the treatment that saved my life. Success stories like mine would not be possible without the work of Cancer Research UK, which relies on everyone who raises money through Race for Life.”

Last year more than 17,000 women took part in Race for Life in Glasgow and helped raise almost £1million.

Olivia McLean, Cancer Research UK’s events manager for Glasgow, said: “This year Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life is going to be full of amazing moments for everyone – from lining up at the start, side-by-side with thousands of other women, to reading the inspirational ‘back-signs’ worn by participants, to the fantastic sense of achievement from crossing the finish line.”

Women of all ages, abilities, shapes and sizes take part in Race for Life. They motivate and inspire each other to complete the 5k course. Many walk round, chatting and having fun, but they all share the wonderful atmosphere at the event.

Olivia added: “One in three people in the UK will be diagnosed with cancer at some stage in their lives, but the good news is more people are beating the disease than ever before.

“Cancer Research UK’s work is at the heart of that progress. By helping to raise money through Race for Life, our supporters are turning hope into reality.”

Cancer Research UK spent more than £23m last year in Glasgow on some of the UK’s leading scientific and clinical research. Cancer Research UK scientists at the Beatson Institute For Cancer Research are trying to understand the fundamental processes that allow cells to develop into cancer.

For example, they are investigating the molecular changes that happen in normal bowel cells that ultimately lead to cancer. Finding out more about this process will help scientists to find new ways to prevent and treat the disease.