Cancer Research UK is Lee & Thompson's Charity of the Year this year and some of our ladies took part in Cancer Research UK's Race for Life which is was held on Sunday 19 July in Hyde Park.

Lorraine Hanson has written an update for you all, so please keep on reading .....

The 10K was run in the end by Zoe, Lizzie and me - meeting up at what seemed liked the crack of dawn on a Sunday (8.15am) before the start at 9.00am just at the time the clouds passed over and the sun came out (unfortunately).  We donned our tutus took a few photos and by chance started fairly near the front of the field.  I set off at a pace, leading both Zoe and Lizzie for the first kilometer or so but was soon caught and passed by them and their younger legs. 

At times an emotional experience as most people had completed the sign for their back which said why they were running or who they were running for - some of which could almost bring you to tears.

It was great to be waved on at the 4K mark by Johnny but as the sun blazed down and with no water stations in the first half of the our legs got tired and I, in particular began to flag.  People at the half distance marker (which would later be the finish) were very encouraging, pushing us all on for the second half of the run.

Finally, the finish line was in sight and even those of us with the tiredest of legs managed to sprint for the finish.  Lizzie managed to get there first finishing in 56 minutes with Zoe then coming in at 1 hour 2 mins and me bringing up the rear at 1hr 13 mins (the 20 years I am older than them both taking it's toll!)

It was then the turn of the 5Kers, Carolyn, Andrea and Lian (Lian was going to do the 10K but bravely downgraded to the 5K on the day as she had been ill since Wednesday last week and was still feeling unwell).

Carolyn and Andrea jogged and power-walked their way round - a 5K even warmer than the 10K as it started at 11.00am when the sun was even hotter.  They were cheered on by Carolyn's parents over from Australia and her husband, and Andrea's husband and son, Nathan.  They stayed together for the whole race with Andrea shaving 13 minutes off her previous time due to Carolyn's fast pace.  Lian walked around with a friend of hers who was pregnant and has been clear of cancer for 7 years.