With six weeks to go, 2,500 women are under starter's orders for the Race for Life in Salisbury. Lesley Bates talks to just a few of them.

WESSEX women are quick off the mark - they've already proved that by making Salisbury's Race for Life 2005 on July 3 one of the fastest filling races this year.

The original allocation of 2000 places were snapped up with ten weeks to go before the off - and an additional 500 to meet demand went within a week.

"To fill ten weeks before the race is quite exceptional, especially as we increased the capacity," says Lorna Glanfield, national events executive for race organisers Cancer Research UK.

The 5km women-only race is one of 162 taking place across the country this summer.

Participants are now concentrating on training and sponsorship.

The Race for Life cuts across the generations as mothers run with daughters and grandmothers with granddaughters.

Last year, former Salisbury mayor Bobbie Chettleburgh went round the course with her daughter and granddaughter.

The main purpose of the race is to raise funds to help in the fight against a disease that touches so many people's lives.

Every woman entering the Race for Life fills in a pink card to pin to their backs saying why they are running, and many make heartbreaking reading.

Some run in memory, some in celebration and some are survivors themselves.

Mel Cane, who lives in Salisbury, wrote on the race website message board: "I found out I had breast cancer, age 47, in October 2004.

"Having read some of the stories on this message board, I feel so moved to be able to take part in this Race for life with others like me."

Mel had surgery and radiotherapy, finishing her treatment in February.

She will be running with her 17-year-old daughter Fi, who is a sixth-former at South Wilts.

"Fi roped me in," says Mel.

"Having been through hell, it was a really nice adjustment thing to do.

"Fi is training me - she makes me go out three or four times a week and it's enjoyable in a ghastly way.

"I'm not a natural runner: the first time we did 100 yards before I collapsed - but we're up to three miles now."

Mel says she had excellent care in Salisbury and thinks it important to be able to give something back.

Barbara Osmund (54) is another who feels that it's time to pay back.

The Trowbridge mother-of-three was diagnosed with breast cancer in January and had a mastectomy.

She is currently undergoing chemotherapy, but is determined to take part, according to her daughter, Kim Patrick, who lives in Salisbury.

Kim (36) and her two sisters Sarah Curtis (28) and Tracey Podger (27) will also be running.

Gemma Oxford (30), from Salisbury, will be running in memory of her dad, Nick Budgell, who died from kidney cancer in September last year.

"Kidney cancer can go unnoticed for months so it was only when it spread to my dad's bones we knew something was wrong," she says.

"I am doing the Race for Life to help raise money for cancer research so hopefully one day kidney cancer can be noticed sooner and save lives of other people with it.

"My dad was my hero and he was so brave throughout his illness.

"He was 57 years old when he died, and I know he will be very proud of me raising money to help others. I miss him so much."

June Williams and her twin, Jacqueline, also lost their father to cancer. Their parents lived much of their married life in Salisbury so the sisters have opted to run in the Salisbury race.

"Our dad unfortunately died at the age of 75.

"We were all with him at the end - he shaped our lives and we are what we are today because of him," says June.

"We miss him so much and my twin sister and I will do out best to raise as much as we can for Cancer Research UK so they can help others fight cancer - no one should die from such a horrible disease."