A Kilcreggan woman is raising money for Cancer Research in memory of her dad – who died of pancreatic cancer.

Roz Patterson, 53, is taking part in a 24-hour relay walk to raise funds after both her parents were diagnosed with cancer.

Her dad, James MacDonald, 82, died of cancer in 2012.

She said: “I never got to spend a lot of time with my dad in the last six months because he lived near Inverness and I lived in Plymouth.

“I had a back operation six weeks before he passed away, so I just want to give something back in memory of him.”

Roz’s mum also battled ovarian cancer 10 years ago and survived: “Without the research my mum might not have survived, so it’s very important and gives me peace of mind.

“The survival rate is really good now, so it shows how important the research is.

“Cancer research benefits most of us because in one way or another cancer has effected all of us.”

Roz previously completed the 26-mile Glasgow Kiltwalk from Hampden Park to Balloch with other military wives, whose husbands serve in the navy.

The group raised £4,800 for Funny Lumps, which carries out research into neurofibromatosis – a genetic condition which causes tumours to grow along the nerves – for a friend whose daughter has the condition.

She has also climbed Ben Nevis twice in a bid to raise money for charity.

For her next fundraiser, Roz will be joined by 10 of her friends for the overnight walk in Plymouth.

The event starts at 1pm on Saturday, July 28 and finishes on July 29 at 1pm and food, drinks and entertainment will be available.

“I can’t wait. I have friends and family down there too, so I will be going to see them too.

“There’s going to be thousands of people there, so I will be taking lots of photos.”

The mum-of-three has already raised £530 through sponsors and a raffle square competition and plans to sell candles at the event which will be lit at 10pm as a tribute to everyone that has been affected by cancer.

Roz thanked everyone living in the Peninsula that has supported her: “I have just been amazed with the amount of people that have supported me and donated. It has been amazing.

“I enjoy doing it and the sense of achievement it gives me is great. I just want to raise more money to get rid of cancer all together.”

To sponsor Roz visit http://relay.cancerresearchuk.org/site/TR/RelayForLife/General?px=1237573&pg=personal&fr_id=1780.