Best friends do triathlon to help beat cancer

Best friends whose mothers both suffered from cancer will be taking on a triathlon to raise money for a charity that is close to their hearts.

Mum-of-three Sabrina Blayden-Ryall was only seven when her mother Jane died of cervical cancer.

Shelley Halperin-Smith’s mum Louise, 66, is recovering from her second bout of breast cancer.

The 29-year-old friends are embarking on the Gatorade Super Sprint Triathlon at Dorney Lake to raise as much money as they can for Cancer Research so that more funds can go towards medical trials.

Sabrina, of Maiden's Green, has fond memories of her mum, who worked as a model and often competed in horse riding competitions before she died at the age of 37.

"One thing she said was that she wasn’t going to die, but that she was going to heaven,” she said.

"Obviously it’s very sad and difficult not having my mum around.

"I can’t imagine what she went through because I couldn’t imagine leaving my children now."

The friends met at Claires Court School, in Ray Mill Road East, when they were nine, after Shelley moved from South Africa with her family.

Shelley, from Hedsor Road in Bourne End, said the NHS staff give 'amazing care' to her mother.

The creative project manager for In Style magazine said: "My mum is desperately trying to get better so she can live life to the full.

"You just don’t realise how prevalent breast cancer is, especially for someone to get it twice."

The two friends will be taking swimming lessons in Bray Lake to prepare for the open water swim during the triathlon.

On the day they will swim for 450m, cycle for 10km and run 2.5km.

Sweaty Betty in Marlow and Sam's Bike Shop in Bracknell have both helped the girls fund their training equipment.

The event will take place at Eton College Rowing Facility in Dorney Lake on Friday, July 20.

Shelley said: "On the day we won’t just be celebrating the triathlon being over but also my mum hopefully being on her way to recovery."

Visit justgiving.com/shelley-halperin-smith1/ to sponsor Sabrina and Shelley.