DEBBIE Pottinger, the mother of schoolgirl Amy Pottinger who died of leukaemia, ran in her memory at the Race for Life at Lydiard Park, Swindon.

Also running with her at Saturday's race was her sister Louise Pottinger and her daughters Laura, 12, and Lucy, ten, of Chirton, Tash Bishop, 16, of Market Lavington, a good friend of Amy, and Debbie Pearce, of Upton Scudamore, a friend of the family.

Amy, a pupil at Lavington School, died aged 15 last October, a year after being diagnosed with the disease.

Debbie Pottinger, of Chirton, said: "It was the first Race for Life I have run. Louise and her children were running it anyway and I decided to do it."

Mrs Pottinger's personal message on the back of her top was Amy, my beautiful daughter, I miss you so much'.

She said: "It was very emotional. There was a minute's silence before the race started as everyone thought about people we had lost.

"It was a really nice atmosphere and I'm pleased I took part."

So many women wanted to sign up for Swindon's Race for Life that two events were staged, one on Saturday, the other the next day. Together they attracted more than 4,000 entrants.

Among them were four sisters who jogged their way around the course on Sunday, raising nearly £1,000 in memory of their mum and dad.

Pat O'Sullivan, 52, and sisters Heather O'Sullivan, 49, Maria Paull, 47, and Sue Diccox, 56, all from Calne, were racing in memory of their mum Kathleen who died from lung cancer in 2005, aged 77, and their dad Bill who died from the disease last November, aged 81.

Pat O'Sullivan, of Wessington Court, said: "It was a very emotional day for us all - as soon as we saw T-shirts with photos of people who had died it really hit us hard.

"Our parents were the best that you could ever wish for and it was a tribute to them that we all ran together. We all found it quite physically demanding but we all persevered and made it over the finish line.

"I think both mum and dad would have been immensely proud of us all."

Joining the sisters was Pat's daughter Kelly and Heather's daughter-in-law Vikki.

To date their sponsorship has hit the £900 mark but the sisters are expecting more after Pat and Sue's bosses at Exception EMS on the Porte Marsh Industrial Estate have said they will give the sisters more.