Sadly, although Sheila, 55, from Sompting, has battled through her own bout of cancer, many of those closest to her have not been so fortunate – her mother, mother-in-law, brother and a close friend have all died from the disease.

But Sheila's experiences have made her determined to help fight cancer, which is why she is taking part in the Race for Life, being held at Worthing Rugby Club on July 20.

Sheila completed her first race in 1997.

In July 2004, she even took part while feeling unwell – and just a month later she was diagnosed with breast cancer.

Sheila, of Abbey Road, said: "You can live with cancer.

"There is life after cancer. Sadly not everyone makes it, but more and more are surviving.

"I, and the thousands of other women who have had cancer and take part in the Race for Life, are living proof of that."

Deaths of friends and family

Sheila's life changed in 1992 when her mother-in-law Betty Nutley died from oesophegal cancer just three weeks after being diagnosed, aged 68.

In 1995, Sheila's mother Helen Margaret Hazlerigg was diagnosed with multiple myloma, cancer of the bone marrow, and died in 1999, aged 79.

And in 1997, her brother Billy developed cancer of the tonsils and died the same year, aged 48.

It was that year that Sheila, an antiques dealer, heard about Cancer Research UK's Race for Life from her friend Tracey Hoquee, who works at the Worthing Family Centre.

Tracey told Sheila about her colleague Lucy Freeman, who had aggressive breast cancer but was determined to take part in the event at Preston Park, Brighton.

Sheila said: "Myself, my friend Debbie Smith from Worthing, Tracey, Lucy and lots of Lucy's friends walked the 5k.

"Even though she was exhausted, Lucy was elated to have finished and afterwards we all went back to her house for a celebration with her husband Ray, and daughter Emma, two.

"Lucy died that September, on her 35th birthday."

Team Gorgeous

Sheila, Tracey and Debbie decided they would enter the Race for Life every year and raise as much money as possible to aid research into the causes and treatment of cancer.

Their team, known as Team Gorgeous, has raised an average of £600 every year.

In 2004, Shelia's friend, Deborah Simmonds, an antiques dealer, also of Sompting, was diagnosed with breast cancer.

A month later, Sheila found a lump and was swiftly diagnosed with breast cancer, too.

Deborah had a mastectomy and lymph nodes removed.

Sheila had a lumpectomy and some lymph nodes removed.

Both needed chemotherapy and radiotherapy and were accepted onto two clinical trials at Worthing Hospital.

Sheila said: "I truly believe the treatments and drugs we both received and the drugs I continue to receive would not be available without the funding from Cancer Research UK and other research groups."

Deborah Simmonds joined Sheila and their group, including daughters, in the Race for Life in June 2005 and 2006, along with another friend Chris Bridger, from Shoreham, who had beaten breast cancer 25 years earlier.

Last year, the women entered the first Race for Life at Worthing Rugby Club.

Click here to see photographs and a full list of participants from the 2007 Race for Life.

Deborah was not well enough to take part but joined the party afterwards. Deborah died in October last year, aged 51.

Fighting on

Sheila said: "I pledge to keep walking for Race for Life for as long as I am able.

"I know all the money the participants raise goes towards research into fighting cancer and perhaps finding a cure.

"The money already helps thousands to live with the disease with treatments that were unavailable or undiscovered even five years ago.

"As the sign on my back says every year – I'm still here and so are thousands like me.

This year, Team Gorgeous will include Deborah Simmonds' mum Shirley Mostyn, 75, from Sompting, and her friend Di Willott, 61, from Worthing.

Do you want to take part in this year's Race for Life at Worthing Rugby Club in Angmering?

WOMEN are being invited to book their places in this year's Worthing Race for Life.

Cancer Research UK's Race for Life was held at Worthing Rugby Club, in Angmering, for the first time last year and attracted 1,750 women and raised £145,000.

The 5k race, which is held at more than 250 locations across the country, will be back at the rugby club on Sunday, July 20.

Jemma Molloy, area event manager for the Worthing race, said: "Last year's event had an unforgettable atmosphere and we raised an incredible amount of money towards the charity.

This year, we are hoping that 2,000 women will sign up to take part in the Worthing event, helping us to raise a target of £201,000."

Those who take part in the race include women who have lost loved ones to cancer or have battled the disease themselves.

It is hoped 750,000 women will join in the Race for Life events this year and raise £50million to fund research into the prevention, treatment and cure of all types of cancer.

To enter or for more information, visit www.raceforlife.org/south or call 0871 641 2274.

Are you taking part in the 2008 Race for Life?

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