Dozens of JCB ladies whose lives have been touched by cancer will step out in colourful style to raise money for research into the disease.

A group of 42 Staffordshire JCB employees will stride out in the Race for Life at Trentham Gardens, Stoke-on-Trent, on Tuesday, June 7th to raise money for Cancer Research UK. Under the name of the JC Bees, the ladies will stand out from the crowd thanks to their brightly-coloured JCB yellow t-shirts, wings and antennae.

And before they’ve each set foot on the five kilometre course, the ladies have raised more than £6,700 towards their £7,000 target. Among the JCB employees taking part in the race is Rebecca Stokes, who is running in thanks for the fact her husband Lee, 39, a Group Leader at the JCB World Parts Centre, Uttoxeter, has been in remission from cancer for four years.

Parts Return Assistant Rebecca, 34, of Tean, who also works at the World Parts Centre, said: “I was 18 weeks pregnant with our second son Oliver when we got the news that Lee had Non Hodgkins lymphoma. He had chemotherapy for six months and went into remission just two weeks before Oliver was born which was a huge relief. Lee has to keep going for checks and fingers crossed in another 12 months he will be given the all-clear once five years have elapsed.

“We were very lucky because Lee only had to have six months’ chemotherapy and his illness was caught in good time. Taking part in the Race for Life is my way of saying thanks for the fact we have been so fortunate.”

Sue Redding, 55, of Stafford, recovered fully from breast cancer and is co-ordinating the JCB ladies’ entry into the Race for Life. She said: “Cancer is something that touches everyone’s lives at some point and the Race for Life gives us the opportunity to have some fun but also raise money towards research. Our sponsors have been very generous and I’d like to thank everyone who has given.”

Picture caption: Buzzing with excitement.....the JC Bee ladies prepare for the Race for Life