Former cancer sufferer joining Hereford's Race for Life

9:10am Sunday 20th July 2008

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A FORMER cancer sufferer is joining thousands of women at this year’s Hereford Race for Life today.

Jacqui Dossett, aged 51, from Tedstone Wafre, first competed in Race for Life in 2004.

“I was inspired to take part because I’d always wanted to run a marathon and this was the nearest thing to one,” she said.

“I also did it as none of my family had been touched by cancer and I thought it would be my way of raising a bit of money and being thankful for my health.”

But in March 2005, Jacqui was diagnosed with Ewings Sarcoma in her spine.

It is a rare form of cancer – more common in children and young adults – and Jacqui underwent 11 months of chemotherapy, spinal surgery and radiotherapy at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital and the Royal Orthopaedic Hospital in Birmingham.

By 2007, Jacqui who works in children’s services in Worcestershire, was on the road to recovery and again took part in Race for Life.

“I got a team together made up of friends and people who had been very supportive or had nursed me,”

she said.

She was joined by her best friend Jo, daughter Eve and Jo’s daughter Nikki, as well as being supported by her husband Shane.

“Race for Life is an amazing experience, it’s so inspiring. I always say being the patient is the easiest bit and it’s harder for the family,” said Jacqui, who also has two step-children, David and Charlotte.

“That’s why Race for Life is such a good thing, because family members can go and physically do something to help,” she said.