A GRANDMOTHER who lost her own mother when she was just three-years-old to cancer is calling for women to take part in this year's Hereford Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life.

Debi Darby's mum, Mavis Harper, died of breast cancer at the age of 27 after ignoring a lump for many months. By the time she was diagnosed the cancer had spread and it was too late.

The 53-year-old from Longtown said: “Mum died of ignorance really. Back then cancer was a death sentence and no one talked about it so people weren’t as aware as they are now.

“I was so young when mum died that I don’t really remember her, and that is really sad. I have photos, and I know things about her, but I don’t know whether those things are memories or just things people have told me.

“I have three daughters of my own and five grandchildren. When they were born it really hit me that I didn’t really know about motherhood. I had nothing to model that relationship on because I’d never had a mother myself."

Debi said when she looks at her grandchildren it brings home to her how important it is to keep research moving forward, which is why she has taken part in Race for Life in both Worcester and Malvern.

She is unable to take part this year due to rheumatoid arthritis, but has volunteered to hand out medals in honour of other women as they cross the finish line in Hereford.

Debi, a former postwoman, has also been inspired by the memory of friend and fellow postman, Stephen Phillpotts – known to all as ‘Trooper’ - who died of lung cancer in 1990.

She said: “We were both heavy smokers and Stephen didn’t want the same thing happen to me. When I was sitting by his hospital bed he made me promise to give up smoking. It was hard, but I did it for Stephen, and I am so glad I did. I owe him a huge debt."

Hereford Race for Life is on Sunday, July 9 at 11am at Hereford Leisure Centre. It is a women-only series of 5k, 10k, and Pretty Muddy events which raises millions of pounds every year to find new ways to tackle cancer.

Sign up for Race for Life now at raceforlife.org or call 0300 123 0770.