EMOTIONS ran high at a Cotswold school earlier this month after a teacher who had battled cancer bravely completed Race for Life.

Judith Barlow, head of maths at Westonbirt Schools, near Tetbury, was diagnosed with cancer last year and was spurred on during her treatment by watching students take part in Race for Life 2014, all wearing t-shirts with her name on the back.

She said she remembers jogging around the 5km course at the Westonbirt Race for Life two years ago being lapped by students from the prep and senior school before she was diagnosed with cancer.

“I was humbled by the names they carried on their backs and should have thanked God that my life was untouched by cancer in any form,” she said.

“Last year I walked the 1km, rather slowly, recovering from surgery and my first chemotherapy treatment.

“Again I was often lapped by our fearless students but brought to tears to see that many of them were this year carrying my name on their backs.

“That thought stayed with me through some of the dark months ahead as the support from the entire Westonbirt family was truly amazing.”

Mrs Barlow, from Frampton Cotterell, was one of a group of staff, parents and pupils from Westonbirt Schools who raised £1,000 for Cancer Research UK.

The runners, walkers and riders chose between a 1km, 2km, or 5km route and runners were showered in colours as they crossed the finish line.

A total of 10 members of Westonbirt’s equestrian team completed a 10km route on horseback, with riders and horses duly decked in pink for the charity.

Event Organiser, Abi Lowes who is also assistant house mistress said: “The turn-out from both schools and parents was amazing and the atmosphere that was created was fantastic.”

This year Mrs Barlow says she felt lucky to be walking it at all.

“I walked again this year, proud to be a part of this fabulous annual event, grateful to be walking at all, aware that I was doing so only because of the money raised from such events providing more and more treatment options for people like me.”