Local women staging their own 'Race for Life' event
A GROUP of Guernsey women have organised their own version of the Race for Life after they found out that Cancer Research UK was not hosting one in the island this year.
Dani Barnett has been taking part in the Race for Life Guernsey since 2008 and decided to set up her own event due to her personal connection with the cause.
‘I started doing the run back in 2008 when my sister was diagnosed with breast cancer,’ she said.
‘I carried on when the following year I found out that the breast/ovarian cancer gene is in our family and my sister and I are carriers of the BRCA gene.’
Carrying the BRCA gene means that a person is at higher risk of developing breast cancer or ovarian cancer than someone without.
‘Having a preventative breast cancer surgery and doing the run a year later was very emotional and really helped to celebrate life.’
The race last took place before the pandemic, and Mrs Barnett was disappointed when she found out an official run was not being hosted in Guernsey.
‘Unfortunately due to low numbers in recent years and the complications of Covid, it hasn’t been possible to bring a Race for Life event to Guernsey this summer,’ said Nathalie Barnett, spokesperson for Cancer Research UK.
‘That’s disappointing because funds raised at all Race for Life events go towards life-saving research, however, we owe it to our participants and supporters to ensure we raise as much money as possible in the most cost-efficient way.’
Mrs Barnett received a great amount of interest on Facebook and has teamed up with Debbie Hunter and Kat Gillespie from the KGV which will host the event.
Cancer Research UK has acknowledged the creation of the local race and thanked Mrs Barnett for her contribution.
‘We hope to return to the island one day but in the meantime we’d like to thank the group who are fundraising for Cancer Research UK by organising their own version of Race for Life on 15 May. We hope they have a great event.’
