33 MEMBERS of the same Droitwich family, have taken part in a 5km Race for Life to raise money for Cancer Research UK.

The 33 women and children from the Darby family took part in the race at Ragley Hall on Saturday, July 4 in a bid to raise money for a cause that’s close to all of their hearts.

The fundraising effort was organised by one of the Darby granddaughters, Sarah King who sent an email out to all of the family at Christmas encouraging them to take part in the race.

Originally she set her fundraising target as £500, but since then the total has swelled to more nearly £2,500.

Sarah’s aunt Diane Smith, who now lives in Ombersley took part in the race. She talked about how the family, which is made up of nine brothers and sisters and their spouses, children and grandchildren, has experienced more than its fair share of cancer scares.

She said: “Sarah’s mum, my sister Maureen Thorn she had it when she was in her early 30s when Sarah and her brother Jonathan were six and four. She had lymphoma. We’d lost a sister Carol 18 years ago who was only 50, and since then my brother David was diagnosed with prostate cancer four years ago.

“My parents had nine children, and five out of the nine have been diagnosed. Also another niece, Louise, she was diagnosed when she was 28 and she was 30 weeks pregnant. She had the baby early by caesarean so she could have treatment and touch wood she’s since had another baby and she’s fine.”

Children in pushchairs took part in the race, along with youngsters from four upwards, and the oldest runner was 76, all Darby family members.

Diane’s sister Maureen, who had just finished chemotherapy treatment for breast cancer after her previous experience with lymphoma, still took part in the race, taking it at a leisurely pace, and the men of the family turned out in full support, swelling the Darby numbers to more than 50.

Diane said: “It was a fantastic day out for the whole family, with all the ladies in pink and all the children, it was great fun. I think we are quite stoical about cancer, we do cope quite well, I do think as well coming from a large family we are a bit unique, we are very close, we do have some great get togethers, we are all close.”

Anyone who would like to add to the Darby family’s fundraising efforts can visit justgiving.com/Darby-race-for-life and donate.