CHILDREN turned their school into a sea of bright pink when they took part in race for life to help beat cancer.
Thomas Willingale School and Nursery, in Loughton, raised over £2,000 for Cancer Research UK before holding a picnic on the field with their parents.
Headteacher Teresa Phillips, who was diagnosed with an agressive form of breast cancer in December, made a special appearance.
The 42-year-old said: “It was amazing – so many of us in the community are affected by cancer.
“We’ve all got a similar understanding of cancer, it’s something that has no hierarchy, it is indiscriminate, so it was nice to do something that brought the whole community together.
“The parents were all amazing, the kids all got medals.”
Ms Phillips had chemotherapy for five months but refused to go off sick as she “adores” her job – and is now currently recovering from an operation before starting radiotherapy.
She is now determined to use her experience to urge others to check their breasts regularly and visit the doctor if anything seems unusual.
She added: “Almost all of us will know people who are or have been directly affected.
"These fundraising events go a long way to helping Cancer Research UK find new treatments and cures.
"Having directly seen the benefit of the work these charities do after my own recent battle it has been so heartening to see so many dig deep and help us to help them keep people alive.
"The children and families have raised an incredible amount of money.”
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