A CHRISTCHURCH schoolgirl who beat cancer as a toddler will open this year’s Race for Life in Bournemouth.

Georgia Phillpot, 15, was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia when she was just 18-months-old.

Since overcoming the disease, she’s been sharing her story to help Cancer Research UK highlight childhood cancers, and picked up a ‘Flame of Hope Young Volunteer of the Year Award’ earlier this year.

Georgia will be the charity’s VIP guest, firing the klaxon to set hundreds of people on their way along Bournemouth Seafront on Sunday, June 16.

Her mum, Jo said: “It’ll be a really proud moment to see Georgia fire the klaxon to start her very first Race for Life.

“When she was diagnosed as a baby after she suddenly stopped breathing, it was such a shock and I didn’t think she would get through her illness.

“If she’d been diagnosed 40 years earlier, she might not have beaten it but thanks to developments in research she’s here today, winning awards and helping raise awareness.”

On Sunday, Georgia will inspire more than 1,700 runners, joggers and walkers of all ages taking on the 5k and 10k Race for Life events from Pier Approach to help fund life-saving research.

Georgia with her mum JoGeorgia with her mum Jo (Image: Cancer Research UK)

Elisa Mitchell, Cancer Research UK’s spokesperson for Dorset, said: “We are grateful to Georgia and Jo for their support and know their story will make an impact on everyone who hears it.   

“Race for Life has the power not only to transform lives, but to save them.

"We’re proud that Race for Life has already helped double survival rates in the UK.   

“We’d love for as many people as possible across Bournemouth and beyond to join us at Race for Life. There is an event for everyone and we mean everyone.”

Since it began in 1994, more than ten million people have taken part in Race for Life.

Andy Curran, chief executive of Standard Life, part of Phoenix Group, said: “We are incredibly proud to continue as headline sponsor for Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life, with the opportunity to encourage participation across the country.   

“By working to raise funds for life-saving research, we can move towards a future where people live longer and healthier lives, free of cancer.”