RUNNING this year's Race for Life in memory of her mother and best friend, a Worcester woman will join 5,000 others to raise funds for Cancer Research UK.

Bernadette Powell, of Warndon Villages, was devastated when she lost her mum, Abina Barnett, who died of lung cancer in 2002, the year after giving up smoking.

Having spent two years caring for her closest friend Maureen Peters, she lost her to breast cancer three months later.

"Cancer is a soul destroying disease and I never want to go through it again with any of my loved ones," she said.

The 46-year-old is over the moon to have secured her place in the event on Sunday, June 12.

"I'm sure they will be looking down on me and would be proud," she said.

"I always make sure I wear something of theirs so that they are part of me.

"It's a very emotional day as you're all there together, united in the same cause," said the mother-of-two.

After her loss, Bernadette, of Wirlpiece Avenue, has been determined to shape up and change her lifestyle.

After joining the gym and eating more healthily she has shed a stone, dropped a dress size and got a much-needed confidence boost.

"If you've been touched by cancer you re-evaluate things and realise that life is precious," she said.

"The changes I've made in my life have made me physically and mentally stronger than I've ever felt before."

The credit manager hopes to raise as much money as possible to fund research into preventions, treatments and cures for cancer.

This year's event has been filled in record-breaking time and there are no places left.

For more information about the 167 other races taking place across the country visit www.raceforlife.org or call 08705 134314.