A BREAST cancer survivor who took part in her first Race for Life event has made a heart-felt plea to fellow runners to return their sponsorship money.

Mary Golding, 47, from Ferndown, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2013 after finding a lump in her breast while having a shower.

She said: “I got swept up in a big wave of hospital appointments. After being referred I had a mammogram which didn’t show up the lump, so I was lucky I had found it in the shower."

The cancer had not spread and Mary was treated with chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

“I was able to keep life as normal as possible for my children and my husband, Paul, because research has made treatments more bearable than they were 20 years ago."

Mary’s hair has not grown back since her treatment but, apart from that, she is doing well with six-monthly check-ups.

She continued to work as a receptionist at Ferndown Leisure Centre where she joined a Race for Life team led by Debbie Whittle who teaches keep-fit at the centre and leads the warm-up at Dorset Race for Life events.

Mary has already signed up to take part again next year. “It was an amazing day and such a great atmosphere with people lining the route and cheering us on”.

But she was shocked to discover that one in three people do not return their sponsorship money describing it as, "a horrible statistic".

Now she is urging the 5,700 women who made up the formidable ‘Pink Army’ in Bournemouth and Poole to make every step count by paying in their sponsorship money as soon as possible and raising a total of £340,000.

Event organiser, Elizabeth Frisby, said: “Many people don’t realise their entry fee only covers the cost of the event.

“It’s the sponsorship money that really makes a difference. So, whatever the amount, we’re asking everyone to make every effort to return their sponsorship money as soon as possible. It can be paid in online, by phone or by cheque.”

Elizabeth added: “I’m asking all the women who took part - and all the friends, family and colleagues who pledged to sponsor them - to transform their passion into progress by returning the money they’ve raised as soon as possible.

“Cancer Research UK doesn’t receive any Government funding for its ground-breaking research. So every contribution matters”.