Striding out (From Penarth Times)

Striding out

A PENARTH woman who lost her father to colon cancer is running the Flora London Marathon not just to raise money for research into the disease but also to increase awareness.

Stella Sturgess, aged 33, has been a member of the Penarth and Dinas running club for ten years, but only started competing around three years ago.

Now the physiotherapist is in training for her first major race and she aims to complete it in under five hours.

She told the Times: "My father, Star Sturgess, who was a big inspiration to me, died in 1995 after a long battle against cancer.

"I have always wanted to give something back in honour of dad and to highlight the great work that charities like Cancer Colon Care (CCC) did in supporting him, and continue to do so for other sufferers today.

"I'll be running with five others from my running club, who have been awarded places through their membership.

"But I'm the only one from Penarth and Dinas Runners taking on the race for a charity.

"I'll have plenty of support cheering me on to the finish line. My boyfriend Rob, mother Joyce, my brother Neil and his girlfriend Juliet will all be there."

Every year more than 35,000 people are diagnosed with colorectal cancer in the UK and almost half of this number - that's more than 16,000 people - will die.

The tragedy is that these figures could be reduced, because the disease is very treatable if caught in the early stages.

CCC is dedicated to reducing deaths from bowel cancer and improving the quality of life of those affected by the disease.

The popular event takes place on Sunday April 17.

If you would like to support Stella and help her raise funds for this vital cause, then visit www.justgiving.com/stellasturgesscoloncancer to make any donations you can.