A group of 12 people ran Stevenage’s Race for Life to honour the memory of a young mother from Hitchin who died aged 37, leaving three children and a husband behind.
The successful event to raise funds for Cancer Research UK took place at Fairlands Valley Park – and saw a sea of pink at the park as mums and kids donned the colour in solidarity with loved ones who have been taken by the killer disease.
Many wrote personal messages on their running numbers on back of their running tops. Olive Street, eight, from Hitchin, who ran with her brother Ben and sister Ellie, penned a heart-rending message about her late mother Anne Aurousseau, who tragically died after a brave fight with cancer in October 2014. It read: “I’m running for my mummy and everyone else who has cancer.”
Anne’s 11-year-old niece Charlotte, who attends Wilshere-Dacre Junior Academy in Hitchin, added: “I’m running for my wonderful auntie Anne and all the other sufferers of cancer. Let’s do this together.”
A spokesman for Cancer Research UK tweeted the Comet about little Olive’s sign for her late mother: “Such a lovely back sign. Thanks so much for the support.”
Anne’s best friend and sister Claire – Charlotte’s mother – added: “I’m so proud of everyone who ran including my three children and nephews and nieces – including my son William who actually finished third overall and my nephew Ben who came fifth.
“It was a lovely thing to do as a family and we intend to do it every year in Anne’s memory – together we can beat this awful disease which has affected so many people.”
Busy mum of three Hannah Wiseman, also from Hitchin – and a close friend of Anne – ran with her daughter Martha and son Jim to raise awareness of the fight against the disease. On completing the course she breathlessly told the Comet: “It’s a great cause. Well done to everyone.”
Another runner from Hitchin, Susan Ryan, ran for Anne with her son Samuel, eight, who attends Whitehill Primary School – and in my memory of her late father and Samuel’s grandfather, John McCutcheon.
She said: “We felt proud to have been part of such a positive, uplifting event.”
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