SPA treatments may be about winding down but relaxation is the last thing on the agenda for these women.

When they are not pampering guests at the city's De Vere Grand Harbour hotel the ladies from Southampton's Serenity Spa are being put through their paces at the hotel gym in preparation for Race for Life.

Manager Ali McAlister and her team are hoping to raise more than £300 for Cancer Research UK through sponsorship and donations from hotel guests.

Ali said: "We all have personal reasons for running but we have noticed more and more people coming to the spa who have survived cancer. It has really touched us all and we feel inspired to do something to help.

"I've never really run before but the leisure staff at the gym have worked out a training programme for us.

"I'm starting to feel fitter and we're all very excited about taking part. The camaraderie surrounding the whole event is fantastic."

The Southampton Race for Life is the single biggest event of its kind in the country with 10,000 women expected to walk or run the 5K course on Southampton Common on July 13. Organisers hope they will raise more than half a million pounds for Cancer Research UK.

Fitness instructor Alex Yates, centre, is pictured, left to right, with, Rhiannon Clark, Ali McAlister and Natasha Bennett at the De vere Grand Hotel in Southampton.

There are still some places left for the Southampton Race for Life - the biggest in the country. To enter, visit raceforlife.org/southwest or call 0871 641 2279 For all the latest Race for Life news, visit www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/charity/raceforlife