A GROUP of mums and close friends are getting set to tackle the Bristol half marathon to raise funds for Cancer Research UK.

Alison Clines from Launceston came up with the fundraising idea after she was diagnosed with breast cancer last spring. She has roped in her friends Emma Berryman, also from Launceston and Carla Barnard, from Yeolmbridge, and they will be joined by Helen Degg, from Egloskerry.

Carla was particularly put-off by the idea of taking on the half marathon, and thought she had gotten out of it when Emma agreed last year to take part. But Alison took a reluctant Carla on a mile run in November, and then signed her up to take part before Carla could protest.

Asked how training is going, Carla said: “Hideous! I’m not a runner and I hate every second of it. But we are still doing it and I guess that’s the main thing. I haven’t run since school and I only ran at school because I had to!

“None of us have ever done a half marathon. Emma did a 10-mile run last year and Alison has done runs like the 5k Race for Life. We are all sort of novices.”

Carla, Emma and Alison have been close for the last decade. They were friends before becoming mothers, and now their daughters go to school together. Carla said Alison’s diagnosis came as a shock to all of them: “It was a massive blow for her. She’s a single mum so immediately her thoughts are with her daughter and what would happen to her.

“She has had chemotherapy, radiotherapy, surgery — everything chucked at her. But during treatment she finished her degree, didn’t miss a school run, never stopped. It was an aggressive cancer she’s got and she amazed everyone.

“It was in October Alison sat down and said I want to give something back, still undergoing her treatment. She decided what she would like to do is a run, she started looking up runs and I absolutely said you guys carry on, I’m not a runner, I would rather shave my head than do a run. They signed up straight away and I didn’t.”

But as well as wanting to support her friend, Carla also had her young daughter, Kaitlin, to think of. Carla added: “My daughter had cancer and still is under watchful care because she’s not in remission. The only way Kaitlin would ever find a cure is through research.

“Alison said if you come out with me we can do a mile together, will you think about it? We did a mile around Lifton. We managed it and got to the end. I got swept along and agreed to it. We got back to her house and signed me up straight away. I came on board under duress!”

They are well on their way to their £500 fundraising target but would like to raise more, and the fundraising is keeping Carla motivated: “That’s what’s driving me to complete it. It’s just hard going sometimes and keeping your body going over that distance is so much harder. I just hate running even more now! Our aim is to do it without stopping and without walking. For me it’s a personal bridge that I have to overcome.

“I’m going to be jumping for joy and chucking my trainers in the bin at the end!”

Alison said of the upcoming challenge: “I started training for it back in November after I had surgery, to get my fitness back, to raise awareness and to give something back. It’s something I really want to do and I couldn’t do it without their support.”

Of Carla’s own experience with her daughter also having had treatment for cancer, Alison added: “Carla’s always the first there to offer help, never lets it get her down. She’s amazing.”

Helen Degg, who will also be running with the ladies next month, said: “I wanted to run to support my good friend Alison. She’s been through such a tough year and has fought cancer bravely and tenaciously. As a dance fitness instructor part of what I love is being able to host events or help others to raise money for cancer charities. My own mum is a breast cancer survivor. Running with my friends has been really motivational. I can’t always say I enjoy running, but together we have great determination.”

Emma, who previously ran the Great South Run raising money for Cancer Research UK, added: “It’s been tough the training, we’ve all got young families and full time jobs.

“Kaitlin’s best friends with my daughter Ruby, Alison’s daughter’s the same, all three went to nursery together and are in the same class at school. We didn’t really need much more motivation. To do it all together will be amazing.

“Training together has been our saviour really. And the Bristol Half Marathon is flat — there’s lots of hills in Launceston!”

The ladies are always in neon pink and yellow when they are out running, so if you see them, give them a ‘beep’ of support!