DUE to a friendly rivalry, people from Falkirk may well be invited to 'take a walk' when meeting someone from Dunfermline.

And two pals who bonded online over their shared battles with cancer are set to do just that, stepping out in the capital to raise funds and awareness in the fight to beat the disease.

Last summer, Lynda Dobinson, 57, of Dunfermline, and Dennis Falconer, 59, from Falkirk, were both diagnosed with stage 3 bowel cancer after it was picked up by the Scottish screening programme.

After the "terrifying diagnosis", they are now on the road to recovery after surgery to remove their tumours and will take part in Walk Together in Edinburgh on Sunday, September 1, in aid of Bowel Cancer UK.

Lynda said: “Neither of us had symptoms so our diagnosis came as a massive shock to us both.

"We both turned to the Bowel Cancer UK website and support forums where we found extremely good information that answered so many of our questions.

"It gave us the knowledge we both needed, and more importantly people we could talk to who knew how we were feeling, and peer support in dealing with our terrifying diagnosis.

"It was on the forums we met. As we were diagnosed only a couple of weeks apart, we were going through the same feelings together and naturally started talking regularly."

Dennis said: “We both have extremely supportive partners, Barbara and Gary, who were amazing throughout, but we found we were able to offer each other a level of emotional support and understanding only someone going through it could.

"Bowel Cancer UK was the first place we turned to and we want to help make sure the charity continues to make a difference to people like us as well as raise awareness of the importance of doing the bowel cancer screening test.”

The charity has organised a five-mile walk through the heart of Edinburgh with the aim of bringing people together to show support for those undergoing treatment, remembering loved ones and raising funds to help stop people dying from bowel cancer.

You can find out more at bowelcanceruk.org.uk/walktogether.

Bowel cancer is the third most common cancer in Scotland and the second-biggest cancer killer. Every year, almost 3,700 people are diagnosed with bowel cancer and more than 1,600 people die from the disease. However, it’s treatable and curable, especially if diagnosed early. Donations can be made to: https://justgiving.com/fundraising/lyndaanddennis