MEET the Netley Central Luvvies - a team entering Race for Life for the second year running.

Team member Julie Ames said that the women had a special reason for wanting to take part in the event on Southampton Common on Sunday, July 15.

She said: "We are all based at Netley Central Sports and Social Club hence the name Netley Central Luvvies. Our lives have all been touched by cancer in some way and we feel we want to give something back."

Ahead of the event the team has been busy raising funds in a variety of ways for Cancer Research UK.

Julie said: "We have held several events over the past year and have raised about £1,000 as well as the sponsorship money our team members will raise this year. Our fundraising events included holding fun days at Netley Central Sports and Social Clubs on most of the bank holiday Mondays over the past year, with activities such as bingo, raffles - for which we donated the prizes - and Easter bonnet parades."

A total of 10,000 women will be taking part in this year's 5km challenge and they are expected to raise about £800,000.

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang star Craig McLachlan will get the proceedings under way and super nurse Anne Croudas will wear the no 1 shirt. Anne has been chosen by the Daily Echo to front its "Do it for Anne" campaign to raise awareness of how the money raised in Southamp-ton is spent.

Sadly, every year nearly half the women who take part in Race for Life fail to return any sponsorship money so the paper is encouraging women to ensure they make a donation.

Woman and Lifestyle Editor Kate Thompson said: "Anne and the group of super nurses she leads are doing a wonderful job linking between the life-saving research and cancer patients.

"It costs £800,000 a year to fund Anne and her team - the amount that organisers hope will be raised in Southampton.

"Let's make sure that everyone who takes part this year sends in a donation so Anne and her team can continue their crucial work."