TWO sisters with a rare genetic condition that increases the risk of getting cancer at a young age are spearheading a fundraising drive for cancer research.

Karen McGurrell, 29, and her 23-year-old sister, Kay, have Li-Fraumeni's syndrome and have already been diagnosed and treated for cancer.

Karen, from Downhill, Sunderland, was diagnosed with ovarian cancer when she was 14.

And mother-of-one Kay, of Fulwell, Sunderland, only recently returned to work after treatment for an early form of breast cancer.

Both women work at the T-Mobile contact centre at Sunderland's Doxford Technology Park.

They and their colleagues dressed up as characters from the cult movie Grease as part of a staff fun day to raise money for research into the disease.

Karen, a manager, said: "I've seen the impact cancer has had on my family and, having survived it myself, I know first hand that it's vitally important to help Cancer Research UK fund research into the disease.''

The women's father, John, died from cancer aged 45 and his brothers, Anthony and Kevin, also died young from the disease.

Karen said: "Our family history means that we are particularly committed to supporting Cancer Research UK and our colleagues at T-Mobile have really got behind the fund-raising drive."

During the fun day, female staff dressed up as the Pink Ladies and male colleagues donned Elvis Presley-style wigs and bomber jackets to transform themselves into the film's famous boys gang, the T-Birds.