Annabel’s Angels in charity runs to honour inspirational cancer victim

Annabel Hancox was gravely ill with the disease when she began talking to other women with the disease on an online support group. But she selflessly ignored her own plight and devoted her energy into buoying up the other women.

Following her death last December she has left behind a legacy of a nationwide network of women called Annabel’s Angels.

This summer the Angels will take part in Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life event across the UK in her memory, including in Mrs Hancox’s home town of Derby.

It was only after Mrs Hancox’s death that the women realised how many lives she had touched and how many of them she had helped.

One of those is Alison Gordon from Tottenham, north London, who has organised the nationwide team of Angels to enter Race for Life.

Miss Gordon and Mrs Hancox met and became firm friends when they logged on to the online support group, last year.

Initially Miss Gordon, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in May, only intended to run the Finsbury Park Race for Life event herself in memory of her friend. But so many of Mrs Hancox’s fellow online friends wanted to take part too, that Miss Gordon has now helped to set up teams throughout the UK.

Annabel’s Angels will run at Race for Life events in London, Middlesbrough, Folkestone, Aberdeen, Kings Lynn, Worksop, High Wycombe, Bath and Derby.

Miss Gordon, a single mother who works for the London Borough of Redbridge, said: “Annabel touched the lives of everyone who came into contact with her.

“She was incredibly kind and thoughtful and put the needs of others before her own – despite everything she was going through.”

“Some of the women taking part have never run before, others have only just finished chemotherapy, but what’s important is that we’re all determined to do it.”

Miss Gordon, who has two teenage children, was diagnosed with breast cancer after finding a lumpand was successfully treated with surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy.