A GRANDMOTHER-of-four who survived womb cancer is calling on women, girls and even dogs to sign up for Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life.

Behind the appeal, ahead of Mother's Day, is Kath Bebbington, from Stoneclough.

She took part in last year’s Race for Life with daughters Lisa, Leanne and Siobhan, and is now encouraging women to lace up their trainers and join her at Bolton’s Leverhulme Park on Sunday May 17.

Kath was diagnosed with womb cancer at the end of 2013 after going to the doctor because of bleeding. The 55-year-old, who had missed her smear test by about eight months, initially put the symptoms down to the menopause.

But when her symptoms got worse, she went to see her GP who immediately got a nurse to carry out a smear test and noticed some abnormalities.

Mum-of-five Kath said: “I’d been due to wait two weeks for the results of swab from the smear test but I got a call from my GP later that day saying they didn’t think I should wait that long. Instead, I was taken to Royal Bolton Hospital for a biopsy of the womb under general anaesthetic. Then I had an MRI scan and they diagnosed stage 1A womb cancer which I’ve been told is a good type because it means they’ve caught it early.

“It was still such a shock though because I don’t smoke, I don’t drink and I walk a lot. When you hear that initial word cancer your mind runs riot and I was thinking am I going to live to see my grandchildren grow up?”

Kath was given a full hysterectomy in March last year and went on to run Bolton’s Race for Life in Leverhulme Park in July.

This year she’ll be back on the course and is calling on more women and girls to sign up and raise money for Cancer Research UK to help improve treatments.

Kath, who has been married to husband Tony for 35 years, has supported Race for Life for the past three years and hopes to raise £150 this year. The couple also have two sons Neil and Andrew.

She added: "I have a friend who lost a daughter to cancer which was very sad. We need to get better and better treatments and anything I can do to support that I will."

To enter Race for Life’s 5k event: visit www.raceforlife.org or call 0845 600 6050.