Pals set to run for cancer-fighting mum Gemma Edgar

Organised by Cara Greenley in honour of her friend Gemma Edgar, Run for Gem, will take place in Colchester’s Castle

Park, raising money for Brain Tumour Research and St Helena Hospice.

Mother-of-two Gemma, 33, mother to sons Dylan, six, and Noah, four, is receiving end-of-life care at the hospice after being diagnosed with an aggressive glioblastoma brain tumour.

Cara, who attended St Helena School with Gemma, said: “Just like Gemma, I am 33 years old and a mum of two young boys so it could just as easily be me with a brain tumour.

“Run for Gem will take place after the normal Saturday park run and afterwards there will be cakes and sausage rolls, made by kind volunteers, at the bandstand for a donation to these two worthy causes.”

Running Colchester, a group where both women were members, have been promoting the event and hundreds have already signed up to take on the 5km route. However Ms Greenley is keen to make it clear it will not just be amateur athletes taking part.

READ MORE: Pair set for epic rowing challenge to raise money in name of Gemma

Many of Gemma’s former colleagues from Colchester Hospital’s paediatric ward, where she was a nurse, will join the route.

Lee Relf, Gemma’s brother, said: “It is amazing what Cara is doing and so fitting.

“Gemma kept on running even while undergoing chemotherapy until she started to deteriorate rapidly at the end of the summer.

“She completed two half marathons and the London Marathon this year, as well as notching up her 50th park run, ticking off another goal on her bucket list.

“We have told Gemma about Run for Gem and she is really happy that friends and strangers alike are all continuing what she did and helping to fundraise and spread awareness of the desperate need to find a cure for brain tumours.”

READ MORE: Gemma's bid to get onto clinical trial

To sign up for Run for Gem, which starts at the Castle Park bandstand at 10am on December 8, email carah62222@gmail.com.