A MUM-OF-TWO has raised £20,000 for a cancer charity after the disease devastated her family.

Diana Bridger, 51, from Tarporley, lost her sister Margaret to bowel cancer in 2006 when she was just 42 years old. Margaret left four young children.

Just four weeks later her dad, Tony, died aged 69 from bile duct cancer.

To compound matters, Diana’s brother, Dennis died of lung cancer in 2015, when aged 52.

She took up running in 2013 and has since pledged thousands to Cancer Research UK, which reportedly spent more than
£23 million on research in the North-West last year.

Diana, who works for Lloyds Banking Group in Chester, will be guest of honour at the charity's Race for Life event in the city on Sunday.

She will speak on stage about her personal story before setting the runners on their way and joining in herself.

She said: “It’s been an incredibly tough time for my poor mum who has lost her soulmate and two children.

“But taking up running has been very positive and knowing I am helping to raise money for Cancer Research UK to hopefully stop other families facing the same heartache in the future, is a great comfort.”

More than 1,300 women are expected to take part in the Race for Life.

The participants will include cancer survivors and people taking part in memory or celebration or a loved one – all coming together for the 5k event at Chester Racecourse.

Women of all ages and abilities, will unite to show commitment to the cause and help bring forward the day when all cancers are cured.

Jane Bullock, spokesman for Cancer Research UK in the North West, said: “The atmosphere at Chester promises to be electric – full of emotion, courage, tears and laughter – as hundreds of like-minded ladies come together to join the fight against cancer.

“I’d like to say a huge ‘thank you’ to all the women who participate in Race for Life in Chester and to all the friends, family and colleagues who support them.

“Our participants play a crucial role in helping to turn discoveries made in the lab into better treatments for patients in the North West and across the UK and we rely on their incredible commitment to the cause.”

Money raised through Race for Life helps Cancer Research UK to fund long-term research and pioneering trials, leading to new tests and kinder treatments which could save the lives of men, women and children across the North West and beyond.

To enter or for more information visit raceforlife.org or call 0300 123 0770.