RACE for Life in Southampton is the largest single event of its kind in the country. On Sunday July 13, thousands of women will gather to raise money for Cancer Research UK. It will be a day of high emotion - loved ones remembered and survivors celebrated coming through the disease. There will be great sadness at the loss of so many and immense joy at what can be achieved when people unite for a common cause.

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Elisha & Lauren Draper

PLEASE help us raise money for mummy.

That is the plea from sisters Lauren and Elisha Draper who lost their mum Sue to breast cancer in 2002 - one of five parents at St Monica Infant School to die of cancer that year.

After her death, the girls and their dad Keith vowed to raise £50,000 for Cancer Research UK in her memory - and they are just £10,000 away from their target.

Now they are asking local businesses to sponsor Lauren, 11, and Elisha, 8, in this year's Race for Life to help them reach their goal.

"It doesn't matter how small the amount," said Keith, 52, who regularly holds fundraising events for Cancer Research UK.

"We just hope there's a local firm out there who wants to support the girls."

Lauren is running Race for Life for the fourth year in a row and looking forward to taking part with her younger sister this time.

"I'm excited about the race," she said.

"I enjoy the running and it's fun. Mummy would be proud of us."

The family were "shellshocked"

when Sue lost her two and a half year battle with cancer and soon embarked on their mammoth fundraising mission to try and ensure others never have to go through what they did.

"We couldn't believe it when Sue was diagnosed two weeks after giving birth to Elisha," said Keith, of Woolston.

"Before she died she worked at the Royal South Hants Hospital for 20 years.

She always wanted to put something back into it, so we're doing this for her. If we can help to save just one person's life it's worth it.

"Sue would have given anything to see the girls grow up but I promised her I would look after them.

"She would have loved to see them doing Race for Life - she would have thrived on it and been cheering them on."

On July 13 10,000 women will gather on Southampton Common to take part in the 5km challenge. Organisers hope they will raise as much as £583,000. If you would like to sponsor Lauren and Elisha Draper's Race for Life, contact Paula Thompson on (023) 8042 4484 or email paula.thompson@daily echo.co.uk

5:18am Sunday 8th June 2008

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