SIX women dedicated to putting a stop to cancer are gearing up to walk 27.4 miles through the streets of London. The Burton s Buddies – made up of Janet and Pru Burton, Maria Tamburello, Elaine Obuchowicz, Jane Crouch and Eileen Rose – will walk 44km in

SIX women dedicated to putting a stop to cancer are gearing up to walk 27.4 miles through the streets of London.

The Burton's Buddies - made up of Janet and Pru Burton, Maria Tamburello, Elaine Obuchowicz, Jane Crouch and Eileen Rose - will walk 44km in September to raise money for the charity Breakthrough Breast Cancer.

The charity means a lot to every member of The Burton's Buddies, but probably none more so than Janet, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in August 2005.

She said: "After going through surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy, I feel a lot better and decided that I would like to give something back."

The 63-year-old said: "The 44km we will be walking represents the 44,000 people who are diagnosed with breast cancer every year.

"The statistics are very scary and it works out that one in nine women get breast cancer each year.

"When I was first diagnosed and heard about this ratio, I thought that means that I'm getting eight of my friends off the hook," she said.

Janet and the team will be joined by thousands of other walkers from across the country who will walk from Richmond Park, along the River Thames, through to Tower Bridge and then on to Regent's Park.

"Two of the team did the walk in 2005 and they inspired the rest of us to do it last year, when the walk was 60km.

"It took two days to complete, but it was worth it because we raised a tremendous £10,000," said Janet.

"Originally I was unsure about taking part, but when I was told that people in chemo do it, I thought then so can I."

Janet said that the cause means a lot to the whole group, with Jane, Eileen and Elaine losing their mothers.

She said: "We all have a personal reason to want to stop breast cancer in its tracks.

"The walk and fund-raising gives me focus and helps to beat this terrible disease.

"Hopefully, we can help stop this disease which affects thousands of women every year.

"Fund-raising goes a long way in helping research. Breakthrough Breast Cancer is striving to get rid of this disease.

"I know personally how the treatment affects the body and how low it brings you down.

"I just want breast cancer stopped, and if this charity can do that, then I just have to support them."

The group, from Royston, which is already in training by walking over Therfield Heath and around the surrounding villages, has set a fund-raising target of £500 each.

Members have already raised more than £1,000 through a quiz night at Greneway School and a strawberries and cream afternoon at the Royston RC Church hall.

Janet said: "The generosity of some people really staggers me."

- The Aviva Walk London will be taking place on Saturday, September 8.

To sponsor Burton's Buddies visit the website at www.breakthroughwalklondon.org.uk