EIGHTEEN workers at a Worcestershire fencing company will be focusing on a post of a different kind when they compete in the Imperial Cancer Research Fund's Race for Life.

The group of women, ranging in ages from early-20s to mid-50s, will have their eyes firmly fixed on the finishing post in the three-and-a-half-mile fun run to be held on Worcester racecourse on Sunday, June 17.

The women all work at Forest Garden, a company manufacturing wooden garden landscaping products and fencing at Stanford Bridge, near Worcester.

Team leader Annabel Kray, a sales administrator, said she persuaded the other women to take part, having been cajoled herself to enter last year's race.

Sponsorship

"I got coerced last year by friends - I thought 'if they can do, I can do it' - so this year I badgered everyone at work," said Mrs Kray, who also enjoys yoga and swimming.

The 31-year-old said the women, who work in sales administration, customer services, invoicing and accounts, were all seeking individual sponsorship but together, they hoped to raise £1,000 for the Imperial Cancer Research Fund.

They are also running for their colleague, Julie Neath, who is in remission from Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma.

"The money will go to the fund but we are running for Julie as well, in spirit," said Mrs Kray, of Barbourne Road, Worcester.

Some of the women have been having practice runs on Pitchcroft, in preparation for the race, now in its third year.

Following the race, which attracts thousands of runners, joggers and walkers, the group plans to have a celebratory picnic or, simply, "go to the pub".