A PAIR of charity runners have gone the extra mile ahead of the race after being inspired by their childhood friend’s battle with cancer.

Claire Quine and Shelly Stevens held a Weymouth garden party and collected £720 for their Race for Life fund to go to Cancer Research UK.

Chickerell resident Claire, 32, will be competing in her fifth Race for Life in Dorchester on Sunday.

She and childhood friend Shelly, 31, are running for their friend Vicky Yates, 32, who is receiving chemotherapy treatment for cancer. The trio have been friends since school.

Claire said: “Our group of friends have known each other since primary school and although Vicky remains in good spirits throughout her treatment this has come as a real shock to us and really hits home the importance of cancer research.”

Civil servant Vicky will be cheering her friends on as they cross the finish line.

New Image Tiles worker Claire added: “As you get older you realise the importance of your health and trying to find a foolproof remedy or a cure for cancer.”

The duo’s garden party, held at Shelly’s home in Weymouth, included a barbecue, face painting, a cake stall and a raffle with prizes donated by local businesses.

Claire said: “It was a private event which was open to friends and family and we had about 75 of them come along.

“We did really well with the raffle. We had such a good response from businesses in the local area. The generosity from local businesses was great and we would really like to thank them.”

The pair have been training and plan to enjoy a picnic in the grounds of Kingston Maurward College with family and friends after the race.

Claire and Shelly can be sponsored at raceforlifesponsorme.org/clairequine and raceforlifesponsorme.org/shellystevens0879