A COUNCILLOR who is taking part in the Race for Life with her daughter has spoken about her own breast cancer scare.

Gill Cartwright, who is a district nurse, said the experience had helped her appreciate first hand what some of her patients go through.

Coun Cartwright, a member of Darlington Borough Council, said: "It was quite frightening. It is one of those things you think is never going to happen to you."

She said she had found a lump a week before last year's council elections.

"The elections were on the Thursday, but I didn't have my appointment at the hospital until the Tuesday."

She said she was fortunately given the all-clear, but the experience had been difficult.

"The worst time was when I went to bed and my mind started to wander and I was thinking about it. It puts your life into perspective because you think about your family and friends and those people closest to you.

"It also made me think about a lot of my patients, some who have made it and others who didn't."

She is taking part in the 5km run with her daughter, 16-year-old Lauren Costin, who is a student at Darlington's Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College.

The pair, who will run the event on June 8 at the town's South Park, are hoping to raise more than £1,000 for Cancer Research.

Lauren, who is the member of the student association in charge of organising charity events, said she was looking forward to the race.

"I am really excited," she said.

"The atmosphere should be really nice.

"Friends and family who have suffered from cancer make you realise the importance of the work Cancer Research and Macmillan nurses do."

They will be running in memory and celebration of a number of relatives and friends who have suffered from, or are suffering from, cancer, some of whom have survived, some of whom have died and some of whom are still battling the disease.

Coun Cartwright said her back sign - which participants write in honour of loved ones - would be a very personal one.

"It will say, For all my patients, family and friends, past, present and future, for those who made it and those who didn't, and for those who are still battling'."

■ To sign up, log on to raceforlife.org/north or call the hotline on 08716412-278.