Race For Life girl hits headlines in Malta (From York Press)

Race For Life girl hits headlines in Malta

1:02pm Wednesday 22nd August 2007 in News By Nicola Fifield, Senior reporter

A MEDITERRANEAN island has been hit by Race For Life fever - thanks to The Press and a gutsy York teenager.

Never in her wildest dreams could Sophie Stockton have imagined the frenzy she was about to create when she arrived in Malta for her family holiday last week.

But since touching down, the 13-year-old, of Navigation Road, York, has been turned into a national hero.

After discovering the York Race For Life clashed with her family holiday in Malta, the plucky youngster resolved to complete the five kilometre race on the same day - but in a different country.

After a Maltese journalist featured her story in the island's most popular national paper, the nation has gone Race For Life mad.

Her uncle, John Stockton, who spoke to Sophie yesterday, said: "Malta has gone bananas. The journalist has set up a bank account for people to sponsor her, and the local authorities have arranged to cordon off the promenade when she does the race on Sunday.

"She has already been interviewed by the Maltese reporter and he's also going to be there with his photographer on Sunday to cover the actual race.

"It's staggering the way they have reacted to what she's doing over there. She phoned me to tell me and she was amazed. She said to me she couldn't believe it.

"It looks like she's going to raise a lot more money for Cancer Research now, which is fantastic because that's what it's all about."

The Maltese paper, Lorizzont, picked up on the story after journalist John Pisani spotted our report online.

He was so touched by the determination of Sophie to complete the Race For Life in memory of her grandmother, who died of bowel cancer last year, that he launched a reader appeal to bring in more sponsorship.

The York Race For Life will take place at Knavesmire on Sunday, with races at 10.30am and 2pm. Organisers are desperately looking for volunteers to make sure the event is a success.

Chief organiser Stuart Leslie said: "There is a huge variety of important jobs, from setting up marquees, to handing out medals or marshalling the course, and your help will really make a difference to the thousands of women who will be raising money to help Cancer Research UK beat cancer.

"Lots of volunteers have dropped out since the event was postponed and we urgently need more people to come forward."

If you are able to help out, let the organisers know by phoning the volunteer hotline on 08702 401112.

Anybody who still wants to take part in the event has until Thursday to sign up - either log on to www.raceforlife.org or phone 08705 134314.

Don't miss The Press's Race For Life supplement on Tuesday.