Brian’s great race to beat breast cancer

9/14/2011 6:18 AM EST

Press Release

For immediate release:

A Gateshead man has pulled on his running shoes to train for the Bupa Great North Run in aid of Breast Cancer Campaign.

Brian Blewitt, who works as a scaffolder in Gateshead, will join 54,000 runners on the starting line for the 13.1 mile race in Newcastle on Sunday 18 September in memory of his wife who sadly passed away from breast cancer in April this year.

Brian’s wife was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1999, and after extensive treatment was clear for five years. However, after being diagnosed with and treated for secondary breast cancer, she sadly passed away in April this year. Brian said: “After losing my wife to this disease, I’m running this race for her and also to help Breast Cancer Campaign fund vital breast cancer research.”

Brian is aiming to raise £500 or more for Campaign and is already well on his way to reaching his target. He said: “I hope lots of people will dig deep and sponsor me for my running challenge so that the charity can get close to finding a cure for breast cancer.”

Brian, who is no stranger to half marathons, is hoping to beat his personal best of 1 hour and 41 minutes. He said: “I’m training hard for the race with shorter runs in the weeks and a 10 mile run at weekends. It’s hard work but it will be worth it when I cross the finish line!”

To help Brian reach his fundraising target please visit http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/brianblewitt and donate what you can.

If you have your own place in the Great North Run and would like to join Brian on Campaign’s team, please call 0207 749 4114, email   or visit www.breastcancercampaign.org

ENDS

Notes to editors
• The Breast Cancer Campaign Tissue Bank, the UK’s first ever national breast cancer tissue bank is a unique collaboration with four leading research institutions to create a vital resource of breast cancer tissue for researchers across the UK and Ireland. Visit breastcancertissuebank.org
• Breast Cancer Campaign aims to beat breast cancer by funding innovative world-class research to understand how breast cancer develops, leading to improved diagnosis, treatment, prevention and cure
• The charity currently funds 95 projects worth almost £16.5 million in 31 locations across the UK and Ireland
• Breast cancer is the most common cancer in the UK and accounts for nearly one in three of all cancers in women
• In the UK, around 48,000 new cases of breast cancer are diagnosed each year - that’s 130 a day
• Visit breastcancercampaign.org or follow us at twitter.com/bccampaign