Bark in the park for Fife woman and her dog in the Race For Life

Fiona Clark and her dog Phoebe are hoping to raise as much money as possible at the Cancer Research UK event in Beveridge Park on Sunday, June 26.

Fundraiser Fiona (44), a full-time foster carer, has been taking part in the yearly event both at Beveridge Park and at Holyrood Park in Edinburgh since 2010, the year she sadly lost dad Alan, 68, after an 18-month battle with bladder cancer. And now she’s urging others to join her.

She said: “I think about dad every year when the time comes to sign up for Race For Life. I know he’d be proud that I’m raising money for such a good cause.

“Because this will be my sixth year doing Race For Life, I wanted to do something a little different, so I’ve roped in the dog to do it with me!

“I’ll be dressed in my usual pink T-shirt for the day and I’ll make something pink for Phoebe to wear too, to go with her pink lead.

“Basset Hounds aren’t known for their running abilities, but if we need to walk part of the way that will be fine.”

As well as losing her dad to cancer, Fiona has lost other foster carer friends to the disease.

Another friend, Mark Hepburn (41), is a cancer survivor. He was diagnosed with testicular cancer at 21 but, 20 years later, he’s well and cancer free.

Fiona added: “I think it’s important to see that the money being raised is making a difference. Cancer doesn’t have to be a death sentence these days, and Mark is proof of that.

“I’ll be raising as much as I can.”

As well as raising money, Fiona is keen to point out the health benefits, having ran her first Race For Life six years ago.

She said: “I used to be 3st overweight in the lead-up to my 40th birthday and before my first Race For Life I really struggled to run 5K, but now I really enjoy it and even managed my first 10K last year.

“Signing up for the race is a way of not only raising money for a brilliant cause, it’s a great incentive to get fit. I love that you can walk or run the course - it’s really for all abilities.

“It can get quite emotional on the start line because everyone taking part is there for the same reason, to unite against cancer.

“This is our way of saying we’ll do all we can to beat this disease.”

To enter the Race for Life visit raceforlife.org or call 0300 123 0770.