Race for Life
Hebden Bridge WI is just six years old and throughout those six years we have had many highs and celebrations but March this year brought our first really sad event with the death of Janet Blackburn.
Janet had been an enthusiastic member of the WI. She was fun loving, arty and a fantastic dresser. She gathered people to her, and expanded the WI by bringing in new members with her enthusiasm for all we did, her beaming smile and her fantastic ability to talk to anyone.
Following her death at Overgate Hospice we put our heads together to try and think of a fitting tribute to Janet. We decided on having Overgate Hospice as our charity of the year and we have set a target of trying to beat our previous charity work by coming up with small fundraising activities through the year so in May 2018 we hope to be handing over a substantial cheque to Overgate.
But we also wanted to achieve something this year and something that we needed to work towards; something Janet would have encouraged us in, and be proud of us for doing. So we came up with running in the Race for Life for Cancer Research UK and raising money in Janet’s name. Eight brave members of the WI: Val, Emma, Fliss, Vanessa, Annette, Jilly, Libby and myself self-consciously put our hands up. We span an age range of 30 something to around 60 years old. Some of us have done running before and some of us hadn’t so we were a complete mix.
Last Sunday in temperatures reaching 23 degrees centigrade Team Hebden Bridge WI ran either 5k or 10k around Heaton Park, Manchester with a photograph of Janet on our backs, an intimidating Race for Life number on the front and a determination to do our best and not let Janet down.

We did it! And we did it for Janet. And so far we have raised over £800, and there is still money coming in. It seems fitting that others suffering from cancer in the North West region will benefit from our efforts. We know that Janet would be proud of us and have supported what we did.
Thank you to all those who sponsored us. If you would still like to donate click on the link below. It’s really easy. Thank you.
https://fundraise.cancerresearchuk.org/page/jenis-race-for-life-1
Jeni Wetton.