A SLIMMING club in the North-East is to run a charity race in support of a friend who has cancer.

Women from the Rosemary Conley fitness class in Coxhoe, County Durham, will take part in Race for Life, which will be held in South Park, Darlington, on Sunday, June 20.

A former member of the group has been diagnosed with breast cancer and several other members have successfully fought the disease.

Pauline Atkinson, who runs the class at Coxhoe Community Centre, said: "A lot of the members know this lady, which is why they are running - but some of the others have had breast cancer themselves and survived.

"So many of my members have nursed husbands or had relatives with cancer.

"Everyone has been touched by the disease, so we are hoping to raise a lot of cash."

To enter the race - covering five kilometres - in support of Cancer Research UK, visit the website www.raceforlife.org. Alternatively, call (08705) 134314.