A GRANDMOTHER who survived womb cancer is calling on women and girls to sign up for this year's Cancer Research UK Race for Life.

Kath Bebbington, aged 55, is encouraging women to lace up their trainers and join her at Bolton’s Leverhulme Park on Sunday May 17.

The mother-of-five took part in last year’s event with daughters Lisa Fairhurst, of Stoneclough, Leanne Bebbington, of Farnworth, and Siobhan Bebbington, also of Stoneclough.

Kath, who was diagnosed with womb cancer at the end of 2013, said: “I’d been due to wait two weeks for the results of swab from the smear test but I got a call from my GP later that day saying they didn’t think I should wait that long.

"Instead I was taken to Royal Bolton Hospital for a biopsy of the womb under general anaesthetic. Then I had an MRI scan and they diagnosed stage 1A womb cancer – which I’ve been told is a good type because it means they’ve caught it early.

“It was still such a shock though because I don’t smoke, I don’t drink and I walk a lot. When you hear that initial word cancer your mind runs riot and I was thinking am I going to live to see my grandchildren grow up?”

Kath was given a full hysterectomy in March last year and went on to run Bolton’s Race for Life in Leverhulme Park in July.

This year she’ll be back on the course and is calling on more women and girls to sign up and join her raising money for vital funds for Cancer Research UK to help improve treatments.

Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life, in partnership with Tesco, is a women-only series of 5k, 10k and Pretty Muddy events which raise millions of pounds every year to help beat cancer sooner.

The charity is hoping to pull in £86,000 in Bolton alone and wants to get 1,400 local people to take part in the event at Leverhulme Park on Sunday, May 17.

Kath, from Radcliffe, said: With Mother’s Day approaching – a special occasion when we acknowledge that universal truth - it’s mums who make the world go round – we are encouraging other mums and daughters to sign up for Race for Life!

“We all know how determined mothers can be when they really make up their minds to do something. And we want to channel that power and energy into a unique force that will help conquer cancer. That’s why we need mums and daughters to enter Race for Life today.”

Cancer Research UK receives no Government funding for its ground-breaking research but the charity intends to bring forward the day when all cancers are cured.

To enter Race for Life’s 5k at Leverhulme Park, Bolton, on Sunday May 17, please visit www.raceforlife.org or call 0845 600 6050.