A family ravaged by cancer, affecting two generations, will take part in Bradford’s Race for Life event.

Helen Munton, 63, of Greengates, Bradford, has been taking part in the fundraising event for four years inspired by the work the charity does and her own family’s experiences with the disease.

Mrs Munton lost her mother-in-law to breast cancer. Then shortly after, her husband’s aunt was diagnosed with breast cancer.

She did recover from the breast cancer but later contracted cancer in her bones, which she still suffers with now.

Mrs Munton’s daughter Charlotte Bradley, 35, who completes in the Race for Life with her, suffered a molar pregnancy about 11 years ago.

A molar pregnancy is an unsuccessful pregnancy where the placenta and foetus do not form properly and a baby does not develop.

A few years later after having a smear test she was found to have cancerous cells on the cervix which then had to be removed.

Her son Michael Munton, 38, was also diagnosed with an astrocytoma brain tumour which cannot be surgically removed.

Mrs Munton said: “At the time my daughter had the molar pregnancy it wasn’t a well-known condition. It was really hard at the time – she was so upset as she thought they were terminating her pregnancy, when in fact she wasn’t pregnant at all.

“But after everything she is fine now and has a son and is happy.

“My son Michael is a talented artist and was diagnosed with the tumour five years ago. He had radiotherapy and it stopped it from growing for five years, but at his last scan it showed it has become active again.

“Thanks to Cancer Research UK he is starting a new treatment of chemotherapy tablets which were not available when he was first diagnosed.

“This shows how important it is that this research carries on.

“Michael is very happy, he met his now wife through his artistic talent and has a six-month-old baby.”

The Bradford Race for Life takes place in Lister Park on Sunday, June 9, and is a great opportunity for mothers and daughters to spend quality time together as they walk, jog, run or even dance their way around the 5km route.

Last year, 2,227 women took part in the event in Bradford and raised a total of £104,235. This year, organisers are aiming for 3,000 women and girls to stride out to help raise £125,000 for vital research. Every hour, about three people are diagnosed with cancer in Yorkshire and Humberside.

Other Race for Life events taking place in the district include one in Ilkley on Sunday, July 14, in East Holmes Fields.

This year, organisers for that event are aiming for 1,500 women and girls to help raise £90,000 for vital research.

Last year Mrs Munton and her daughter raised £400 for the cause and hope to beat that amount this year.

Visit raceforlife.org or call 0845 600 6050 to enter.