A GRANDMOTHER who survived cancer is preparing to take part in her third Wirral Race For Life. 

Christine Smith, from Port Sunlight, is among more than 200 signed up for the Globe-backed event in Birkenhead Park on Sunday, July 27. Proceeds will go to Cancer Research UK.

Mum-of-two Christine was diagnosed with breast cancer almost three years ago and is currently on medication. Looking forward to Race For Life she said: "It is my way of hitting cancer where it hurts. 

"I'm so grateful for the research that’s helped me and now I want to help others by supporting Cancer Research UK’s work."

Christine first discovered a lump in her left breast in 2011 - exactly one year to the day that she had undergone her first mammogram.

The 53-year-old went to see her GP and was immediately referred for a biopsy at Clatterbridge Hospital and it was here that Christine and her husband Dave were given the devastating news that she had breast cancer.

Just weeks later Christine underwent surgery to have a lumpectomy and at the beginning of December she embarked on chemotherapy treatment which lasted until April 2012.

One month later, Christine, who became a grandma for the first time earlier this month, began radiotherapy treatment. She then continued to take herceptin for the following 12 months.

Now she goes for regular scans and will take medication for the next five years.
 

She said: "It was a terrible shock when I was diagnosed with cancer. I just couldn’t believe it was happening to me.

"When I was diagnosed with cancer it was a really difficult time and it wasn’t at all pleasant going through chemotherapy. On the boxing day of that year I decided to shave all of my hair off before it fell out.

“The fact that I’ve had cancer will never leave me.

"Every day I think about how lucky I am to have survived and often I wonder if the outcome would have been different if I had got the disease 10 years earlier. Research into the disease is just so important."

This year, organisers need 3,600 women and girls to stride out in Wirral on July 27 to help raise £350,000.

So far, 247 have signed up. To join them, visit www.raceforlife.org or call 0845 600 6050.