HUNDREDS of women are limbering up for tomorrow's Race for Life in the North-East.

Among them are 30 members of staff from the privately-run mental health hospital and care home at Middleton St George will join in the event at South Park, in Darlington, to raise money for Cancer Research UK.

A team of 24 from Darlington's Haughton Community School have joined forces for the event to pay tribute to a former teacher who died last year.

Christine Davies, a PE teacher at the school for 28 years, died of cancer in June last year.

Jackson Sweeting, Haughton's community sports co-ordinator, has put together the team in her memory.

Mr Sweeting's Dream Team will wear distinctive bright pink T-shirts sponsored by Armstrong UK, which has supplied school uniforms to Haughton for more than 30 years.

Mr Sweeting said that as well as remembering a well-loved colleague, members of the team have their own stories of survival and loss to inspire them to take part.

The Middleton St George team hopes to raise more than £1,000 and anyone wanting to sponsor them can call (01325) 331932.

The school team, made up of staff and former pupils, has so far raised more than £125 in sponsorship and donations can be made on (01325) 254111.

More than 1,500 women, of all ages and fitness, have signed up for the race. They have been sponsored to walk, run or jog the 5km course and all money raised goes to Cancer Research UK.

This year's event, which is the second race hosted in Darlington, is supported by The Northern Echo with a number of members of staff taking part. Entrants are asked to be in South Park for 10.15am for a mass warm-up.

Race organiser Janet Cooper said: "We have got 1,580 women doing the race, which is 500 more than last year. The response has been superb.

"Now all we need is a bit of sunshine and we have got a recipe for success."

* Entrants can park their car for free in the town centre.