THE aptly-named Bosom Friends are putting on an united front - and their trainers -for this year's Race for Life.

A support group for breast cancer sufferers and survivors from across the county, Bosom Friends is fielding a team of eight for the 5km event in June.

Among them is joint co-ordinator and cancer survivor Janet Backhouse, 61.

She said: "Most of us have done Race for Life before and everyone is really looking forward to the opportunity to do a bit to help the cause and raise money for Cancer Research UK."

This year, there are three Race for Life events in Oxford.

The first, in University Parks, is on Saturday, June 7, at 11am and 2.30pm, plus a further event the next day at 11am.

There will also be a Race for Life at Heythrop Park, on Sunday, June 22, at 11am.

About 9,500 women will be taking part and aim to raise £620,000 in sponsorship.

Mrs Backhouse said: "This event is so important.

"As our membership shows, breast cancer has no boundaries - it affects all ages and people from all walks of life.

"So we need to do all we can to raise money to help find a cure."

Mrs Backhouse discovered two breast lumps while on holiday in 2002.

She said: "I wasn't unduly worried as I had a history of cysts.

"However, at an appointment at the One Stop clinic we are lucky enough to have at the John Radcliffe in Oxford, they confirmed breast cancer.

"I was taken into the Churchill for a lumpectomy and removal of necessary lymph nodes.

"Fortunately, there was no spread to the nodes, but the biopsy showed many seedling tumours in the breast, which meant I had to be re-admitted for a bilateral mastectomy six weeks later.

"I elected to have the second breast removed because of the risk of re-occurrence of this type of cancer.

"This was followed by radiotherapy treatment.

"But fingers crossed, I'm now well and healthy."

The aim of Bosom Friends is to provide a safe and confidential environment for women to meet and share their thoughts and fears.

Mrs Backhouse said: "Very often they don't want to burden their friends and family with their problems, and don't feel they can empathise in the way someone who has been there can."

For more information on Bosom Friends - or to sponsor their Race for Life team - call 01865 862865 or 01296 749198.