A Suffolk mum who has battled cancer twice is urging women across the county to take part in this year’s Race for Life and help families stay together longer.

Ipswich Star: Hundreds gather in Chantry Park, Ipswich for Race For Life.Hundreds gather in Chantry Park, Ipswich for Race For Life.

Ally Wright, of Ipswich, is also calling on men to cheer on their loved ones from the sidelines or to help out as volunteers during the event, which takes place in June.

The mum-of-two was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2011 and underwent radiotherapy while continuing to work full time. In 2000, just after her youngest son was born, doctors found cancerous cells in her cervix. Ally has also had loved ones go through treatment and is determined to see funds raised towards research. She said: “The first time I had radiotherapy was the first time I fell apart. I was by myself, driving to work and sobbing all the way. You see the same people through the treatment, I went at the same time every single day before work and I realised how lucky I was, there were people so much worse than me.”

She added: “I have a friend who was diagnosed at the same time as me; she has children the same age as mine. There’s no treatment that can help her and that’s why we need more research to save people like her in the future, that’s why we need to support Race for Life.”

Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life is a women-only series of 5k, 10k, Pretty Muddy and marathon events – every year they raise millions of pounds.

This year at Trinity Park, in Ipswich, the Pretty Muddy event takes place on June 13 and the 5k and 10k events the following day.

Last year more than 8,000 women took part in Race for Life in Suffolk and helped to raise more than £420,000.

To enter, visit raceforlife.org or call 0300 123 0770.