Ann leads the way in Race For Life

Jun 21 2007 By Alison Dayani, Birmingham Mail

MUM-of-two Ann Henstock may not have been first past the post in Birmingham's Race For Life run, but she feels like a real winner.

That's because Ann was Number One in the eyes of her family, friends and the Birmingham Mail for her motivation to run in honour of her parents, who have both died from the disease.

The cleaner won the Mail's competition to compete the Cancer Research UK race in the leader's No 1 bib after revealing the plight of parents Reg and Evelyn Baldwin.

She headed up the 5km race through Cannon Hill Park last night in front of her proud husband Paul and sons Ben, aged 10, and Thomas, seven, both Belfield School pupils.

Thousands of other women also ran in the event aimed at raising cash for the charity to help the millions of people affected by cancer.

Ann, aged 43, of Burrowdale Road, Northfield, said the race was particularly emotional because she lost her 81-year-old mother Evelyn to bowel cancer last month.

"Having both parents die from cancer meant doing Race For Life even more poignant for me," said Ann. "It feels fantastic to have completed the race and raise about £400 because I didn't know if I could do it.

"All the family were there cheering me on though. At times, it was emotional, but the thought of my mum kept me going and I'd like to think she was there watching over me."

Ann, who lives with 36-year-old husband Paul, finished the race in 39 minutes, 32 seconds.

She was first affected by cancer 16 years ago when her father Reg, a retired factory worker, died from prostate cancer at the age of 69.

But Ann and her sister Georgina Cooper were dealt a double blow this year when their mother Evelyn, from Selly Oak, was diagnosed with bowel cancer. Evelyn, who was a cleaner at Birmingham University for more than 20 years, died on May 8.

Meanwhile, staff in the Birmingham office of law firm DLA Piper are to commemorate a former colleague who died of cancer at the age of 33 by running in tonight's Race for Life in Cannon Hill Park. The 5km race is one of a series of races being staged across the country by Cancer Research UK.

A team of four from DLA Piper is running to raise money in memory of Sonia Harris who died in March from pancreatic cancer. Donations can be sent to DLA Piper UK LLP, Victoria Square, B2 4DL.