SHE was just a girl when she lost her mum after two brave battles with cancer.

Gemma Eldridge was only 14 years old and preparing to study for her GCSEs when her beloved mum Margaret passed away.

The grief may have eased with time but the hole left in their family is still empty nine years later and to this day Gemma doesn’t know exactly what form of the disease claimed her mother’s life.

It was something Margaret Eldridge had wanted to keep private in a bid to protect Gemma and her younger brother Frazer who was just 11 at the time.

Fashion design graduate Gemma, who studied at Southampton Solent University, however is determined to honour her mum’s memory and help other families facing the same heartbreak as hers.

For the past five years she has taken part in Race for Life in a bid to raise awareness of the cruelty of cancer and the devastation it can wreak.

The 23-year-old, who lives in Shirley, has fundraised for Cancer Research UK because she knows how vital research is to discovering kinder and better treatments and preventing others from enduring the gruelling treatment Margaret did.

Now she’s issued a rallying cry to women of all ages, shapes and sizes to do their bit by signing up for one of three Race for Life events taking place in Southampton this weekend.

Gemma, from Shirley, who works as an assistant manager at a New Forest hotel, will not be able to run this year due to injury – but she will be cheering on her friends who are set to pound the paths of Southampton Common on Sunday morning in the annual 5k event.

Recalling when her mum was first diagnosed, Gemma said: “I was in my last year in primary school when mum got cancer for the first time. I wasn’t told much then, it was kept quite secret as she didn’t really want me and my little brother to know much about it.

“It was actually a couple of teachers who brought the seriousness of it to my attention by asking questions and pulling me to one side to see how my mum was and how we were.

“I was in the dark – I would have preferred to have known. I understand why mum wanted to protect us but I would urge anyone going through what she did that it’s best to talk to your children and be honest.

“To this day I am still not exactly sure what cancer my mum had – there was never that moment when we were told “this is what’s happening”. It is something that I sometimes try to talk about but it’s still hard and my family is still healing.”

Gemma told how her mum won her first cancer battle and life returned to normal but when she was in her second year at grammar school life was turned upside down again when Margaret’s cancer returned.

“Mum was in and out of hospital and I started to understand more what was happening this time. I was going to the hospital and I was a lot more involved. It was a very difficult couple of years as dad tried to take care of mum and look after me and Fraser as well.

“Mum passed away just at the beginning of my third year at school when I was 14.”

Gemma, who graduated in 2014, said: “It is so important that the awareness is there and money is raised so that research can be done. Kinder and better treatments are being developed all the time, even here in Southampton and it’s important people realise the work that is going on thanks to the money they raise.

“Race for Life is really good fun but it’s also about knowing and understanding why you are doing it. It’s a really good day – so inspiring – and there’s a great atmosphere with people of all ages, shapes and sizes taking part. The nice thing is to be supported by other people who have been through what you have so I would urge everyone to sign up if you can.”
Sam Beare, event manager for Southampton Race for Life, said: "We want this year's Race for Life to be our biggest and best yet so we are calling on women of all ages, shapes and sizes to sign up and join the charge. It's time to form a pink platoon of feisty, go - getting girls and show cancer who's boss."

"Every day around 130 people are diagnosed with cancer in the South East. That's why we are calling on women in Southampton to sign up and stand shoulder to shoulder in the fight against this devastating disease."

Registration for the Pretty Muddy Southampton and Race for Life 5k and 10k closes on Thursday but there are still a small number of places available.

To sign up visit raceforlife.org or call 0300 123 0770.