Race for Life comes to Winchester on May 15. BBC Fat Nation presenter Georgina Windsor will start the event and take part. KATE THOMPSON reports...

TAKING part in the first Race for Life in event in Winchester last year was a milestone for BBC Fat Nation presenter Georgina Windsor.

She happily admits that she had settled into married life and started to relax, eating and drinking what she liked.

"Before I knew it I had put on three and a half stone. I was an ex-dancer and I had slipped into the wonderful married world of eating and drinking and chilling out a little too much," she said

Georgina, 34, a reporter for BBC South and allotment correspondent for BBC Radio Solent, began training for Race for Life - and she hasn't looked back since.

"The Race for Life planner is fantastic. It tells you how to train for the event and gradually build up the distance you are running.

"When I first started in January last year I couldn't even walk fast for 20 minutes.

"I used to go out running with my husband and I just took it slowly.

"The first time I ran for ten minutes was wonderful - I thought I had beaten Linford Christie.

"I built it up slowly and by the time it came to running the event at River Park, I knew I could make it," she said.

Georgina has a special reason for taking part in the Cancer Research UK fund raising event. Her aunt was diagnosed with breast cancer and her best friend's sister succumbed to the disease.

"You used to think that cancer was something that affected older people but when it claims the life of a 30-year-old woman it becomes so much closer to you.

"It made me sit up and say 'Right let's get going,'" she said.

Buoyed by her success in completing the 5km course for Race for Life, Georgina went on to take part in other running events including the Great South Run.

"I really enjoyed that because it was a nice flat course. Some of the others had too many hills and that was really hard work," she said.

"If you look at the statistics, more men are out exercising regularly - playing football and things like that.

"If you want to cut your chances of developing cancer then you need to have a fit life. Getting in shape for Race for Life is the perfect excuse to start exercising.

"From November to January I just can't do it but come this time of year, I am happy to get out and start running.

"I hated exercising when I was at school - it was all nasty netball skirts and big blue pants.

"This is different, this is about taking control of your life.

"People ask me how I lost the weight but it's a simple equation - I ate less and exercised more and Race for Life really helped me to get back in shape," she said.

"Having lost the weight I feel so much more confident." When Georgina gets the runners underway on May 15, she admits it will be a proud day.

"Winchester is my home town and it does make me feel proud to be involved with Race for Life in the city.

"There's such a lovely atmosphere. It's incredibly poignant, especially when you read some of the things written on the women's backs. Many are running in memory of loved ones or because they are survivors themselves.

"But it's more than that. This event is all about the unification of women and taking responsibility for your own life."

Race plans, information on taking part for the first time and a guide to nutrition are all available on the Race for Life website.

In this region 250 women are diagnosed with cancer every week.

A new health awareness campaign called Reduce the Risk has been launched by Cancer Research UK and it highlights the changes that people can make to their day-to-day lives to cut the chances of developing cancer.

Training and taking part in Race for Life can be a great way to start getting fit and back in shape.

Organisers hope local women taking part in the Winchester event will raise up to £90,000 towards the national target of £23m.

To enter Cancer Research UK's Race for Life log on to www.raceforlife.org or call the hotline on 08705 134314.