A SWINDON mother will be running in memory of her husband when she takes part in this year's Race for Life.

Heather Hemmings, of Westlea, said she wants to raise money through the Cancer Research event in a bid to help prevent other families going through the pain of losing a loved one.

Her husband, Peter Hemmings, died from prostate cancer in 2001 at the age of 53.

The three-mile run is being held on Sunday, June 5, the couple's 34th wedding anniversary.

Mrs Hemmings, 55, has now started her training regime to make sure she can complete the course. She wants to help families who have a relative suffering from cancer.

She said: "I'm doing it for my husband.

"If I could just stop one person from suffering that pain then it's worth it."

She is running the race with her daughter, Polly Marie, 13, sister, Jacky Cook, 42, of Eastleaze, and her seven-year-old daughter Kimmy.

The four of them set off for their first training run last week and they did better than they had anticipated.

Mrs Hemmings said: "We ran around Eastleaze. There were hills as well as flat stretches but we did okay. It wasn't that bad. It took me and Jacky about an hour but the kids sprinted off.

"They could walk as fast as I could run."

As well as a daily running schedule, she will also be hitting the gym with her sister.

Mrs Hemmings said: "I'm aiming to run two-and-a-half miles every day and go to the gym. I've got to."

The group are not worried about how fast they complete the charity run. They just want to get round in one piece.

"It's such a good cause," she said.

"I'll finish the race and I don't care how long it takes me."

Now the training has kicked off, the family are looking for more sponsors to raise as much cash as they can.

If you would like to sponsor them, call Heather on 01793 870303.

Lyndsay Scanlan