A GROUP of school staff are switching lessons for leg-work to raise money for cancer research.

More than 20 staff members from Grampian Primary School, Sinfin, have signed up for this year's Race for Life charity event.

Teacher Melanie White, 25, organised the group effort and said entering as a team had helped to give people the confidence to sign up.

Melanie, of Thames Way, Hilton, said: "Quite a few of the staff at the school have done the Race for Life before but now there are 23 teachers and support workers taking part.

"At the moment, we're trying to get regular training sorted out because we haven't got long to go.

"Because we are entering as a group there is a shared spirit of confidence and people who might not have done it on their own have signed up because we're all in the same boat."

Melanie said group members were motivated to raise money to fight cancer.

She said: "Many teachers and other staff have been affected by cancer over the past year.

"Some of the teachers have had cancer scares and some have lost family members. It's been quite a tough year for some of us."

The group is entered in the 5k race to be held at Darley Park.

Melanie said there was a varying level of running experience among the group. "We're all different ages and we're all at different paces," she said.

"But we will stick together and we're confident everyone will finish.

"I'm quite a keen runner. I've done the Great North Run and I'm hoping to maybe do the London Marathon next year."

Two Race for Life events will take place at Darley Park – on Saturday, May 9, and Sunday, May 10.

Sunday's race has been filled, with 3,500 women pledging to take part, and more than 2,700 have signed up for Saturday's event, leaving nearly 1,000 places left.

There will also be a Race for Life event at Donington Park, on Tuesday, July 7.

Last year, more than 6,500 women walked, jogged or ran in the Darley Park event and raised £388,240.

To take part in the women-only event, visit www.race forlife.org or call 0871 641 2282.

If you are running because you have been affected by cancer and would like to share your story, e-mail cduffin@ derbytelegraph.co.uk or call Derby 253053.