TWO courageous women who became friends as they battled cancer side-by-side will step up their fight against the disease by launching this year's Race for Life.
Nadine Farnsworth and Lisa Dore met during chemotherapy and are now preparing to run in the Victoria Embankment race.
And the pair, who call themselves the "chemo sisters", have been chosen to kick off tomorrow's event.
Mum-of-one Lisa, from Underwood, said: "It's been an awful time but I have made a very good friend in Nadine through it – she's more than a friend, she's my sister.
"We're hoping to raise £500. Cancer is something that touches most people at some point so it's really a worthy cause."
Nadine, 24, said: "To start the race is a big honour. It will be a very emotional day for us."
Nadine, a teaching assistant in Mansfield., was diagnosed with Hodgkin Lymphoma in summer 2012 when she was 28 weeks pregnant with son Blake.
To enable treatment to start as soon as possible, Blake had to be delivered early at 33 weeks.
Lisa, 39, was diagnosed with the disease in 2010. But despite going through treatment another tumour was found in her lungs in 2012 and she met Nadine while having chemotherapy.
Katie Martin, Cancer Research UK's Nottingham events manager, said: "Participants may be walking or running but what's inescapable is the power and strength that comes from thousands of women joining together to confront cancer."
The Race for Life takes place at Victoria Embankment on Sunday with two 5km races starting at 10.30am and 2pm. The 10km run begins at 2pm.
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