A BREAST cancer survivor is taking part in Bolton Busting Breast Cancer's Relay for Life at Bolton Arena to boost research into the disease.

Barbara Collett, a 60-year-old sewing machinist, was struck by the disease in 1997. She has since recovered and now wants to help the worthwhile campaign which is backed by the BEN.

Barbara will be joined on the track by her husband Ray, a Bolton Arena board member and well-known fund-raising marathon walker.

It was Ray who suggested taking part in the relay, which will be held on Saturday, February 16.

The grandmother from Horwich admits she is not as fit as her husband -- "I don't really walk a lot," she confessed -- but she is enthusiastic about taking part.

The couple will be joined by their daughter and two grandchildren, aged 12 and nine, and a friend.

"The children are "thrilled to bits" about taking part," said Barbara.

She explained doctors discovered breast cancer when she went for a routine mammogram.

A week after they found her lump was cancerous and Barbara went in to the Royal Bolton Hospital to have it removed.

"I went in on the Friday, had surgery on Friday evening and went home on the Saturday!" Barbara recalled.

Three weeks of radiotherapy at Christie Hospital followed and she still takes the drug Tamoxifen and goes for check-ups.

But Barbara -- whose work includes making delivery bags for newspapers and canopies for town centre BEN sellers -- lives life to the full and said she is "very much" looking forward to the Relay for Life.

Preparations for the event are now gathering pace.

Bolton Arena will be the scene of 12 hours of sporting madness with a sponsored relay walk or run around a track on the tennis courts.

Teams of family members, work colleagues and friends have already rushed in to sign up for the challenge.

While team members go round the track, others can enjoy a disco, karaoke, games and competitions throughout the night -- or have a sleep in a special "chill out" room.

The event begins with an inspirational lap of honour for those cured or currently being treated for cancer.

It will also be an opportunity for people who have lost loved ones to cancer, to pay their own personal tribute.

The emotional climax of the event is a candle-lit vigil when participants are invited to light a candle to remember friends and loved ones who have had cancer or are fighting it now. The candles will be placed in lanterns and arranged to spell out the word "Hope."

Teams wanting to take part in Relay for Life should call Christine Blease on 0161-772-5563.