A CROSSFORD mum who beat cancer has run the Race for Life in memory of the friend she met during treatment.

Lesley-Ann Chessor, 40, sounded the starter horn at the event in Kirkcaldy on Sunday and ran as a VIP.

The mum of two was diagnosed with breast cancer just days before lockdown and was forced to go through much of her treatment without her family by her side.

"On the first day of chemotherapy treatment at Queen Margaret Hospital in Dunfermline I met an amazing lady, Hanniffia McGrath who was also going through chemotherapy," she explained.

"Hanniffia was a wonderful support and we became close friends. It was heartbreaking when we lost Hanniffia to cancer this April.

“I Race for Life for Hanniffia and for everyone who today is facing cancer. I Race for Life to fund research which I hope will help beat cancer for future generations."

The pair formed an "unbreakable bond" while using the same cold cap machine, a system which allows patients to retain their hair during treatment.

Earlier this year they launched a fundraising appeal in the hopes of replacing the old machines at the hospital.

It was a family affair at the event on Sunday, where Lesley-Ann's husband, Richard, 39, and two children, Crawford, nine, and Blaire, seven, also took part.

The playgroup worker faced mastectomy surgery, eight rounds of chemotherapy, and 15 radiotherapy sessions, all while home schooling her kids during the pandemic.

"My children were in p1 and p3," she said.

"Life was busy so I didn’t have a lot of time to think. In some ways being in lockdown actually helped me to deal with the cancer emotionally.

"The children, my husband and me were my whole world. It was hard being away from family though. Lockdown restrictions meant I had to tell my mum and dad I had cancer over Facetime, even though they live just two miles away."

After completing treatment in December 2020, Lesley-Ann has been determined to raise awareness of the disease and support others who are going through what she experienced.

Previously she completed 100k by May 2021 while rebuilding her strength, raising £1,993 in the process, and ran the Race for Life Hopetoun House last Autumn, raising another £2,033.

She has also launched her own Instagram page, "Me and the Little C" to share her journey.

And she wasn't the only West Fife resident to take part in the event at the weekend, McLean Primary School's Louis Stein, 7, was one of the youngest participants and was the first home in the 3k race.

Dunfermline's Police Scotland Youth Volunteers also joined volunteers in Kirkcaldy for their first outing since 2020.

This included pupils from Dunfermline, St Columbas, Woodmill, Queen Anne, and Inverkeithing high schools.

Sheena Gilmour, from Dalgety Bay, also attended, after being clear of breast cancer for 22 years.

Across the board 960 people attended and more than £102,000 was raised for Cancer Research UK

Lisa Adams, the charity’s spokeswoman in Scotland, said: "We are incredibly grateful to everyone who took part in Race for Life Fife.

"Life-saving research is being funded right now thanks to our supporters who fundraise. The atmosphere at Race for Life Fife was hugely moving- full of emotion, courage, tears and laughter as people celebrated the lives of those dear to them who have survived cancer and remembered loved ones lost to the disease.

"Now we’re asking everyone who took part to return the money they’re raised as soon as possible. Funds raised- whether it’s £10 or £100 will help scientists find new ways to prevent, diagnose and treat cancer, helping save more lives."