'Everyone knows someone who has been touched by cancer'

Carol Fishlock and Keith Fishlock have been volunteering for 35 years

A couple who have been fundraising for 35 years say they do it because everyone knows somebody who has been touched by cancer.

Carol Fishlock, 67 and her husband Keith Fishlock, 73 originally started volunteering for the Bridgwater Friends of Cancer Research Group after their mums both passed away from breast cancer.

Mr Fishlock, who is in remission after being treated for bladder cancer, said: "My mum Betty passed away when she was quite young and in those days, it was one treatment fits all. It didn't work for her and she was quite poorly from the treatment - I thought we can do better than that and I'm going to try and improve things. "

The group has now raised a total of £1.25m.

Mrs Fishlock's mother was only 53 when she died.

Her daughter-in-law has since also had treatment to remove a tumour on her salvia gland. She had an operation and targeted radio therapy treatment and has now been given the all clear.

The group is encouraging businesses in Bridgwater to decorate their shop windows in pink

Mr Fishlock said the group was very large when it started and so volunteering was also a social thing.

"Even now we try and have as much fun as we can and if we do raise a few pounds along the way, all the better." he added.

The Somerset fundraising group has organised five duck races on the rivers Parrett and Tone and developed the Bridgwater Half Marathon, as well as many other local events.

The group is celebrating its latest fundraising milestone by asking businesses in Bridgwater to decorate their shop fronts in pink during October to help raise money for cancer research.