WOMEN workers dressed as cowgirls are getting ready to take the reins for this year's Race for Life.

Female employees from the Department for Work and Pensions in Lancaster Road, Preston, are getting on their marks and hoping to raise hundreds of pounds for Cancer Research UK.

With more than 20 entrants the women will be putting on their stetsons and galloping around the track on Sunday, June 1.

Leader of the pack, 32-year-old Hayley Hughes, entered last year with her mother Helen Bleasedale and sister Sharon, in memory of her great aunt who died of cancer.

This year the mother-of-two has roped in colleagues and is training hard for the 5km race. Hayley said: "We were inspired by The Citizen and also The Cheeky Girls who are supporting the race."

One runner, Alex Marsden, will be taking part in memory of her father Terry Rowland, who died of a rare form of cancer last year, aged 61.

Alex said: "It's a very difficult thing to deal with.

"My husband's mother died of cancer and I watched him go through it and then it happened to me.

"My father had a rare form of cancer and he was not in a fit state to be treated. This is my way of giving something back and remembering him."

Race for Life forms are available at The Citizen's offices, Winckley Square, Preston, at Tesco stores, online at www.raceforlife.org and by calling 08705 134 314.