A TELEGRAPH & Argus team will take part in this weekend’s Bradford City Runs in memory of a work colleague who lost her battle with cancer.

Rosalie Whitaker, nicknamed Roz, who worked as a newspaper sales merchandiser, died of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in aged 71 in August this year.

A group of 16 of her work colleagues will take part in this Sunday’s event in Bradford, competing in the City Runs’ 5k and 10k races.

The team, nicknamed Running For Roz in her honour, will be raising money for the Annette Fox Leukaemia Research Fund, which is based at Bradford Royal Infirmary where she died.

It has already raised £1,509 from its initial £500 target.

Joanne Ellerton, newspaper sales manager, said Mrs Whitaker’s family have taken comfort from the team’s fundraising efforts.

She said: “Roz would have loved this.

“She would have pretended to be embarrassed by it, but would have been really touched by it.

“The purpose of doing this is to bring all of the team together but also we are doing it in memory of Roz.

“It gives us a good chance to remember her in this way.

“We all have our own memories of her. She was a secret comedian and was always pranking people.

“I have been in touch with Roz’s family who have been overwhelmed by the fundraising in her honour.

“They say they have taken some comfort from it. It is lovely that they have taken something from it.”

Grandmother Mrs Whitaker, of Oxenhope, first fell ill in July 2014, and despite initially recovering, she relapsed earlier this year.

Before she started working for Newsquest Bradford, which owns the T&A, she ran Whitaker’s newsagents in Bradford Road, Stockbridge, Keighley, for 26 years.

Phil Addy, of Baildon Body Shop, who donated £400 to the team’s total, said: “I think it’s great that Team T&A has come together to run in memory of a colleague and good friend Roz.

“They are raising money for a great cause and it will help so many other people who are effected by cancer.

“My company is proud to sponsor Team T&A and I wish them the very best of luck on the day.”

This year’s Bradford City Runs take place on Sunday from 9.15am and will feature a 5k, 10k and half-marathon, plus a children’s race for the under 11s.

The 5k laps start and finish by City Park with the route encompassing the University of Bradford, Broadway, and Little Germany.

Organisers are looking to raise about £9,000 for the University of Bradford’s Plastic Surgery and Burns Unit (PSBRU) appeal and hope for a record 1,500 entrants.

To register for the race, by the 6pm deadline on October 28, go to bradfordcityruns.co.uk.

Go to justgiving.com/fundraising/Robert-Drummond4?utm_id=23 to make a donation to the T&A team.