A BUSINESSWOMAN who suffers from ovarian cancer is leading a drive to fund research into the illness.

Judith Barton was diagnosed with the disease for the second time in June 2013 after being in remission for two years following her diagnosis in 2000.

The 52-year-old is director of the Windlehurst-based British School of Coaching, which offers management training to clients across the UK, Europe and the Middle East.

Now she is helping organise fundraising events for the Eve Appeal, which supports research into gynaecological cancers.

“The reason for the appeal is that hardly anyone survives because it’s not as common and the research money is almost non-existent at the moment,” Judith told the Star.

“A lot has gone into breast and prostate cancer recently but not as many know that this exists.

“The first event saw my childhood friend Julie Aubrey-Williams and her brother Mark run in the Windemere Marathon in May which raised around £1,400 including support and donations from businesses in St Helens.”

The second fundraising event, which was jointly organised by the British School of Coaching and St Thomas Boteler School, in Warrington, saw 60 pupils and teachers take part in a race called the ‘Adam and Eve’ in July.

Judith added: “So far we’re in excess of £500 for the school run although there will be more collections in September.

“We have the launch of the new British School of Coaching website in August so we would like to organise another event to co-ordinate with that.

We’d like to look at something later in the summer to involve the community of St Helens, possibly either a ‘Get Fit’ or a cleanup event.

“We’ve raised nearly £2,000 from the events so far and it would be lovely in the end if we get to about £5,000.”

Research shows that ovarian cancer is the fifth most common cancer in woman in the UK and it is the second most common gynaecological cancer . In 2011, there were around 7,100 new cases diagnosed in the UK.

The disease becomes more common with increasing age. Three quarters of cases are diagnosed in women aged 55 and over but since the mid-1970s, the incidence of ovarian cancer in females aged 15-39 has increased by 56 per cent.

For more information about The Eve Appeal is available by calling 020 7605 0106. Alternatively, send an email to alice.barley@eveappeal.org.uk or visit www.eveappeal.org.uk.