On Sunday ten members of the Twitterati team (many dressed as cheerleaders -whoop) will take part in the Cancer Research UK Race For Life on Hampstead Heath. Some of us are fighting fit and healthy, others are on the slightly slobbier side, but we all have one thing in common - we want to raise money for a fantastic cause…

Last month I had the privilege of joining my gorgeous friend Rebekah Gibbs as she ran the Race For Life at the 02 in North Greenwich.

Rebekah, an actress best known for her role as Nina the paramedic on Casualty, was diagnosed with breast cancer at 34 – just ten weeks after the birth of her daughter Gigi.

It was a very gruelling time for her both physically and emotionally.

Not only was Rebekah terrified that she might not be around to see her baby daughter grow up but there were also days during her treatment where she was just too weary to get out of bed.

Two years on I am pleased to report that Rebekah is fighting fit and well on the road to recovery. As she ran the 5km Race For Life in just over 30 minutes, it was amazing to see how her energy levels had returned. She looked elated, happy and healthy.

Also running that day was TV presenter Zoe Salmon who seemed a little subdued. When I chatted to her she revealed she was feeling completely shellshocked after sadly losing Laura Steenson, one of her best friends from university, to cancer the week before.

“I didn’t even know she was ill,” she told me. “It all happened so quickly. Laura didn’t tell me. She obviously didn’t want anyone to know. The first I heard was when her family got in contact to say she’d died the day before. It was awful.

“Afterwards I just sat there, completely shocked and thinking about the last time I spoke to her. It was literally a couple of weeks before and we’d been chatting about her 30^th birthday in June. I keep looking at the last photo I have of her. I can’t take it in.”

Poignantly the last time Zoe had seen her friend was a year earlier when they’d gone to a Cancer Reseach UK ball together (pictured left).

“It just sends shivers down my spine that we were there having such a great time and then just over a year later Laura would be diagnosed with cancer,” Zoe added. “She literally had no idea.

“During the race when you read all the back of the t-shirts and see who people are running for it’s really emotional.

“All these people are there for the same reason. They all want as much awareness as possible for cancer and the more money raised and the more research that can be done the better.

“Maybe one day there won’t be cancer? Laura was 29-years-old and she died of stomach cancer. It is just unbelievable. She was an amazing friend. I can’t believe she’s gone.”

It is stories like Zoe and Rebekah’s that really bring home why events like Race For Life are so important. Not only are they vital in funding Cancer Research UK’s life-saving work into preventing, diagnosing and treating cancer they also raise awareness.

All members of the Twitterati Party have had some dealing with this nasty disease and we are running this for many people.

As well as seeing my friend Rebekah beat the Big C, I recently had the joy of celebrating with my lovely pal Lorna when she was given the glorious news that she too is well on her way to kicking cancer.

But in October 2008 I sadly lost my beloved grandmother Mary to the disease so I’m doing the Race For Life in her memory.

Despite her lot, my grandmother was dignified, uncomplaining and brave and we were lucky to be able to nurse her at her home until the end - but she also suffered a lot and I would done anything to stop her enduring it.

Like Zoe says it is the dream that one day we will be free of cancer and we’d be very grateful if you could spare the Twitterati team just a pound or two.

You can click here to see our fundraising page.

Thank you xx