A SHIPSTON mum of two who beat cancer despite being told the tumour on her lung was probably ‘incurable’ wants the women of the region to join her at Race for Life.

Sarah Burkill, 53, is among the team ‘Burkill’s Posse’ in the Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life Pretty Muddy event at Stoneleigh Park on Saturday June 27.

She hopes her amazing reprieve from cancer will inspire others to sign up a Race for Life event at either Stratford or Stoneleigh.

Sarah, mum to Annabel, 18 and James, 17, became unwell in summer 2010, losing weight and feeling weak and tired. She initially put her symptoms down to stress, but was rushed to hospital when her right arm became purple and swollen.

After being diagnosed at Warwick Hospital with deep vein thrombosis, Sarah was given a scan which revealed a very aggressive form of lung cancer. She was just 48 at the time.

Sarah, who runs her own commercial interiors business from her home in Shipston, said: “When I was told that I had cancer, I was just completely shocked. There was no history of any type of cancer in my family, so I just thought it wouldn’t happen to me. I had advanced adenocarcinoma, a type of non small cell lung cancer. I was given a very poor prognosis and was told my cancer was probably incurable and I could only be given treatment to slow it down.”

However, there was hope. Another specialist told Sarah he might be able to operate if she responded well to chemotherapy. She responded very well to the treatment at Warwick Hospital and after the third dose her oncologist said the cancer had shrunk.

Te day before her 49th birthday she underwent surgery to have the top section of her lung removed as well as lymph nodes from her chest wall and neck and after further chemotherapy treatment was told in April 2011 she was in remission.

This summer Sarah will celebrate five years clear of cancer. She continues to go for regular scans and check-ups, but says that she now feels back to full health.

Sarah said: “When I look back now I just think how fortunate I’ve been. I was happy to try new drugs for my chemotherapy, I was willing to try anything."

She says she has always been a huge supporter of Cancer Research UK and is taking part in Race for Life Pretty Muddy in order to raise vital funds for the charity.

She added: “I now know more than ever just how vital research is. I don’t know if I’d be here today if it wasn't for all the research that is done and the new treatments that are constantly being developed.”

Those wanting to take part can sign up at www.raceforlife.org