Thousands of women are taking part in the event

Thousands of women are taking part in Cancer Research UK's Race for Life in Sunderland on Sunday.

Cancer survivor Karen McGurrell, 30, and her sister Kay, 27, will be joined by their mother Margaret, who lost her husband to cancer, and Kay's daughter.

Money raised will go towards research into cancer treatment and prevention.

Karen and Kay have been diagnosed with an extremely rare genetic condition, known as Li-Fraumeni's Syndrome, which increases the risk of developing cancer early in life.

Their family is one of only 400 diagnosed with the disorder around the world.

Vitally important

Karen was diagnosed with ovarian cancer when she was just 14.

Kay, who is seven months pregnant with her second child, was diagnosed with an early form of breast cancer, known as Ductal Carcinoma In Situ, in July 2002.

She was treated with surgery but did not need chemotherapy.

Their father John McGurrell died from cancer at the age of 45. His brothers Anthony and Kevin also died young from the disease.

Karen said: "I've seen the impact cancer has had on my family and, having survived it myself, I know first hand that it's vitally important to help Cancer Research UK fund research into the disease."

This is the third year the women-only Race for Life has been held in Sunderland's Herrington Country Park. A number of others are held around the north-east of England.