Sunderland fitness instructors’ great race to beat breast cancer

9/27/2011 5:46 AM EST

Press Release

For immediate release: 27 September 2011

Two Sunderland fitness instructors pulled on their running shoes to train a team of their clients for the Bupa Great North Run last weekend in aid of Breast Cancer Campaign.

Mel Brewis and Helen smith, who are fitness instructors at Wear-Fit, and four clients from their fitness classes, joined 54,000 runners on the starting line for the 13.1 mile race in Newcastle on Sunday 18 September after people close to the group have been affected by breast cancer.
Mel said: “Members of the group have all been touched by breast cancer, some have had friends and family who have fought breast cancer, some have won but sadly others have not. We were all really proud to run for Breast Cancer Campaign in the Bupa Great North Run as we know that every penny we raise will help the charity fund vital research into the disease.”

Not only did the group take on 13.1 miles, but they completed the challenge dressed as a bright pink train! Mel said: “We wanted to raise as much money as we can to help Breast Cancer Campaign continue funding vital research so we thought that by dressing as a train and making the challenge the little bit harder, people would dig deep and sponsor us!”

She continued: “It wasn’t easy running in a train costume but we got round the course in 2 hours and 44 minutes and we are delighted!”

Helen added: “Mel and I are both active down to our job, but the remainder of the team hadn’t really run before. They have all been training so hard and we are all very proud to have made it to the finish line in such a good time.”

Mel, Helen and the team are still fundraising and are keen to raise as much money as they can for Breast Cancer Campaign. Please visit http://www.justgiving.com/Mel-Brewis and donate what you can.

If you would like to take part in a running event for Breast Cancer Campaign please call 0207 749 4114, email   or visit www.breastcancercampaign.org

For further information about Wear Fit or if you would like help training for a running event please call Mel on 07956575167 or email  

ENDS

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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