A TEAM of bouncing bosom buddies is preparing to muck in to help beat cancer.

The four friends, led by cancer survivor Karen Clark from Saltdean, are preparing to get down and dirty at Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life Pretty Muddy in Stanmer Park on July 2.

Karen, 52, and her team – Anne Cunningham from Hove, Tamzin Wares from East Grinstead and Sophie Hale from Horley – got in some practice for one of the obstacles on the course, the Spacehopper challenge.

Now the buddies are urging others to follow their lead and sign up at www.raceforlife.org to help make a difference in the fight against the disease.

Pretty Muddy is a women- only, non-competitive 5k obstacle course with added mud, thrills and spills.

The group geared up for the challenge with a training session on Telscombe Tye.

Karen said: “We’re ready and willing to take on Pretty Muddy and we hope to raise as much money as possible.

“We’ve all loved and lost people to cancer so we want to do everything we can in the fight against the disease.

“My personal experience means I understand all too clearly why Cancer Research UK’s work is so important.

“That’s why I’m urging women in Sussex to join us and take part in Race for Life to help beat cancer sooner – every participant can help make a difference.”

Karen, a part-time administrator at a clinic, discovered her breast cancer through a mammogram.

She had a family history of breast cancer.

Her mother Audrey Woodward survived the disease 40 years ago, leaving Karen at a higher risk of developing the disease.

While living in Belgium, Karen underwent annual mammograms.

When she returned to Britain in 2013 she was approaching her 50th birthday and waited for an invitation for her first mammogram.

But it didn’t arrive.

Although she was well and there was no sign of anything untoward, Karen went to her GP, explained the family history and was referred for investigation.

The new mammogram didn’t show any problem but Karen had taken her previous mammograms with her.

And after comparing the two and further investigation, doctors found two small grade three tumours hidden deep in her breast tissue, known as ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS).

Karen underwent a lumpectomy, chemotherapy, four weeks of radiotherapy, has finished a course of herceptin and is now well.

For more information about the event, visit raceforlife.org or call 0300 123 0770.