Whittlesey woman plans lockdown run to keep promise to friend who died from cancer

Penny Rowe promised Sarah Lee she would take part in Race for Life every year after Sarah was diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer.

The 43-year-old from Paston used to take part in the race every year to raise money in memory of her grandad.

Penny (50) has kept her vow by taking part in the annual race to fundraise for Cancer Research UK, only to see her efforts this year thwarted by the coronavirus pandemic which has forced the event’s cancellation.

But unperturbed, she has committed to running a half marathon from her home in Whittlesey on June 4 - the day her former work colleague Sarah would have been celebrating her 47th birthday.

She said: “I made a promise that I would do Race for Life for her every year and I have done so far. In the first year I did it as a minion with yellow face paint and an outfit!

“This year’s event has been cancelled and the Great Eastern Run, so I thought I would run around Whittlesey.

“It will be very different as normally there are crowds supporting you and marshals. I’ve done eight half marathons before but this is something a bit unusual.”

Penny and Sarah worked together as claim advisers for an insurance company, and Penny said of her friend: “She was wonderful - very straight-forward and she would say what she thinks.

“But you could not ask for a more supportive and loyal friend. She was very bubbly and always with a smile.”

Penny is raising money for Pancreatic Cancer UK. To donate, visit: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/penny-rowe12.