A NANTWICH dad who lost his mother to cancer is challenging men and women to help beat the disease by entering Cancer Research UK’s Run 10k.

Mark Parsons, together with his daughters Ruby, four, and Thea, two, has helped to launch the Cancer Research UK event at Delamere Forest, which is now open for entries.

The logistics manager, 49, has dedicated his participation to his mum Christine, who lost her battle with bone cancer in 1993 when she was 47.

He hopes he will be joined by thousands of other men and women for the 10km run on September 6.

He said: "My mum was an extremely strong person who tried to keep the severity of the situation from the family because she didn’t want anyone to worry.

"She fought the disease to the very end. I miss my her tremendously and just wish she could have met my daughters.

"But taking part in the Cancer Research UK 10K at Delamere Forest is my way of supporting the charity to help future generations who are diagnosed with the disease."

Organisers hope the Delamere run - one of 43 Cancer Research fundraising events this autumn - will hit a specific fundraising target of £63,648.

Event manager Paula Jones, of Wistaston, also has an extra special reason for encouraging as many people as possible to register.

The 36-year-old was diagnosed with cervical cancer when she was 23 and underwent a hysterectomy.

She said: "Despite improvements, one in four people in the UK will die from the disease. We want to change that."

To enter Cancer Research UK’s Run 10k visit www.run10k.org