Jeanette’s pride at starting line

May 12 2008 by Jule Wilson, The Journal

A BRAVE Sunderland mum who survived a rare form of throat cancer said she was honoured yesterday to start her local Cancer Research UK Race for Life.

The annual women-only event, raising vital funds for research into the many forms of cancer, was taking place at Herrington Country Park in Sunderland, and attracted more than 3,000 participants.

Jeanette Clennell is 44 and having recovered from pharyngeal cancer, she is now on a special diet after the radiotherapy which treated the disease left her unable to produce enough saliva. Her meals now consist of nutrition drinks, mashed banana, milky coffee and the occasional chocolate truffle.

The busy mum-of-two said after finishing the 5km challenge: “I feel fantastic. It’s a great privilege to be able to take part and to be here at all following my treatment, but to start the race was an absolute honour, because there a lot of women here today with an awful lot of courage.

“I feel a great sense of achievement and the atmosphere was absolutely fantastic. I will definitely be back next year.”

And Julia Haran, the regional Press manager for Cancer Research UK said she had high hopes the event would raise more than last year’s total of £145,000.

She said: “It had been a tremendous day with seas of women wearing pink and dressing up for the cause. We are really grateful to everyone that has taken part, donated, and come along to spur the race on. It bodes well for the rest of the summer’s calendar as Race for Life now heads to Gateshead, Darlington, Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Durham and Newcastle.”