The “inspirational” wife of a retired army Major who beat prostate cancer is gearing up to rouse support for Race for Life.
Jane Mann, 53, who won her own battle with cervical cancer 20 years ago, will lead the ‘Cancer Slam’ at Eagles Meadow shopping centre in Wrexham on Friday March 14 between 11am and 2pm.
The grandmother and Rosemary Conley diet and fitness instructor will lead a fun and energetic fitness routine to up-beat music at Eagles Meadow to encourage women to get involved in the Race for Life 5k event at Alyn Waters Country Park on Sunday June 8.
She will also be on hand to chat to shoppers and hand out information leaflets.
Proud husband David, 65, who started his Army career, aged 17, at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst where Princes William and Harry completed their training, paid tribute to his wife.
He said: “Jane is an inspiration to me on many fronts but most especially this one. Before we were married she had invited me to come and help at Race for Life, and I just remember seeing her inspiring ladies as they crossed the line.
“I thought I had been in an environment where motivation and inspiration was important in the forces. But I was charmed, bowled over and inspired from what I saw in Jane’s ability to connect with women especially and encourage them.
“She’s been a leading light for me – a star actually. Not only to help me through a challenging illness, but also in day to day life.”
David, who served in the Light Infantry regiment in countries including Germany, Pakistan, Gibraltar, Malaya, and Northern Ireland, was diagnosed with prostate cancer in March and after undergoing six weeks of radiotherapy he has been given the all clear.
He added: “Jane knows what it’s like to have been made aware that you are suffering from a life-threatening disease.
“We’re all going to die at some stage but the moment when the prospect of that comes closer is quite a shocking event. You become aware of your own mortality.
More than 1 in 3 people in the UK will develop some form of cancer during their lifetime which means someone is diagnosed with the cruel disease every two minutes.
Money raised through Race for Life allows Cancer Research UK’s doctors, nurses and scientists to advance research which is helping to save the lives of men, women and children across Wales.
Liz Booth, their Wrexham events manager, said: “We’re very grateful to Eagles Meadow shopping centre for offering the space.
“It allows us to get into the centre of the community to talk to the people of Wrexham. It is where the people are.
“Over six million people have taken part in the Race for Life in the UK it has raised 457 million for cancer research UK over the years. Last year in Wrexham 1,400 took part. It raised £69,000. This year we’re looking for 1,500 people to take part and we have a target of £80,000.
“Race for Life is non-competitive. It’s not about being fit or fast. Most women are able to walk 5k in an hour while chatting and having fun. Or they can choose to jog, run or even dance around the course if they prefer.”
Liz added: “Jane really is an inspirational woman. She’s done a lot to support the race for life and we’re very grateful for all her hard work.”
Jane recalled how her own painful fight with cancer which led to a full hysterectomy, made her determined to make a difference: “I was devastated. For me it was a double hammer because obviously it’s a life-threatening disease and I had a child to look after and I was single.
“But at the same time I was challenged with the prospect of not having any more children, and that was devastating as well.
“That was as much of a challenge for me as a woman at that age, as I’m sure it is for ladies who have to have mastectomies and things like that. It is part of your identity. It is your womanhood. It’s who you are.
“I was lying in my hospital bed after the operation and a friend of mine came in and said ‘Why don’t you run the London marathon?’
“I was just sitting there all wired up and recovering from a major operation. But then I started thinking that it was quite a good idea, that I needed something to focus on, something to take my mind off of what’s happened.
“So a bit like Forrest Gump I got up out of bed and started running. I was angry, so I needed something to get it out my system.”
Six months later in April 1992 brave Jane was running her first London Marathon.
Jane added: “I recovered and trained for it from a standing start, and I did it and it was the best thing I ever did.”
Since then Jane has become an ardent supporter of the Race for Life.
She said: “It creates positive energy all channelled in one direction with all these people giving up their time and their energy to do something to help others.
“It’s like nothing else, turning something negative into a positive, and that’s the sort of thing we need to fight the cancer. Look it in the eye and say no not me, not now. It’s making a difference.”
Eagles Meadow Manager Kevin Critchley said: “We will be delighted to welcome Jane and the team. I am sure they will inspire many others to take part in the Race for Life event.”
To enter Race for Life Wrexham today go to www.raceforlife.org or call 0845 600 6050.
