ON Sunday, a flood of pink will sweep through Lister Park when Race for Life returns for another year.

More than 1,200 runners, joggers and walkers will come together for the annual charity 5k event in aid of Cancer Research UK.

The only rule for the women taking part in the route around Lister Park is that they must wear pink.

The race will start and finish this year outside the Cartwright Hall gallery and will be officially started by 16-year-old cancer sufferer Megan Carr, from Thornton.

The teenager, who was diagnosed with Hodgkin Lymphoma in March 2015, was picked to inspire the many hundreds of women from all over the district who have entered the race on Sunday to raise money for Cancer Research UK.

She has been undergoing treatment at Leeds Cancer Centre, in St James’ Hospital, and finished her first round of chemotherapy in September 2015.

A recent scan showed some of the cancer remained at the back of her lung, so she is currently undergoing a stronger series of chemotherapy sessions to try and get cancer free.

Megan’s mother, Karen Carr, said that despite the chemotherapy, her daughter was remaining upbeat.

She said: “Megan is being really good about it and is in high spirits.

“Her consultant is also looking into getting her onto a trial programme using a different chemotherapy treatment.

“She is feeling well at the moment and is looking forward to starting the race off on Sunday.

“I’ll be with her on stage and while we’re both a bit nervous. It is a really exciting occasion; she is a real inspiration to everyone.”

Television viewers all over the country will have already seen Megan, as her first radiotherapy treatment was featured in a television advert from Cancer Research UK, which has been appearing on our screens since it aired at Christmas.

It shows Megan having a specially moulded mask placed over her face and shoulders before being lined up ready for the radiotherapy treatment.

Megan, who is a student at Bradford College, said: “Cancer has been life changing for me in so many ways.

“I’m more thoughtful about other people, more supportive and more confident.

“There are so many people, like me, waking up to the reality of cancer every day.

“Now I’m urging people across Bradford to take action right now to help fund vital research to help beat this devastating disease.”

Megan will set the race off at 10.30am. She will speak to the crowd to inspire them and is also taking along her specially-made radiotherapy mask.

A group of more than 44 ladies from the Guru Gobind Singh Gurdwara, in Leeds Road, will be among the hundred of runners being waved off by Megan.

They are taking part in the Race for Life event to show that cancer affects all communities, and will be led by Mandip Sahota.

The group will wear traditional Indian dress in various shades of pink. Many other members of the Gurdwara will be providing refreshments for the volunteers, while another is helping to give out the medals.

Miss Sahota started raising awareness of cancer after her aunt died from a secondary form of the disease.

She helped organise an awareness roadshow last October and was involved in an Asian Cancer Awareness event in November at The Fairmont in Ventnor Street, which raised £18,000 for Cancer Research UK and Marie Curie.

Miss Sahota said: “I ran last year’s Race for Life and have also done a couple of 10k races and a half marathon.

“What struck me most was how few Asian women took park.They raise money for the charities and make donations but actually getting physically involved and taking part doesn’t seem to be on their radar.

“My mother, Joginder Sahota, and I hoped to get a group of 20 or 30 women together, calling themselves the Gulab Gang, which means pink gang, to take part in Race for Life this year and we have signed up 44.

“Many of them are elderly and not all will complete the whole race, but it will be good to see them involved.

“It will be fun but there will be a serious message, and hopefully it will send the message to the rest of the area’s Asian community that cancer affects all races.

“This is a real community day for us, and we’re encouraging members of the Sikh community to join us on the day to cheer on their family and friends.”

Miss Sahota said that anyone wishing to join her group could sign up until midnight tonight on the Cancer Research UK website using the group ID XE0706.

Last week, as reported in the Telegraph & Argus, the number of runners taking part in this year’s race looked like it was going to fall short of last year’s total, but Katie Mathers, event manager for Race for Life in Bradford, said there had been a late surge in sign ups.

“We have had 200 people sign up in the last week, and we urge people to continue signing up for the race,” she said.

“I’ve got my fingers crossed for good weather. This is my first year in Bradford and everyone told me it always rains but hopefully it will hold off.”

The current forecast however, does not give good viewing, with rain predicted and temperatures of around 14 degrees expected.

Entry costs £14.99 for adults, and £10 for under 16s, with under fives going free. Visit www.raceforlife.org today to sign up before midnight.