A Downend girl who battled a rare form of cancer as a baby is urging women who took part in the Race For Life to hand over their money.

Sophie Evans was among the participants who took part in this year's event on the Downs and is now calling on fellow fundraisers to return the sponsorship they raised.

The 11-year-old was diagnosed with a soft tissue cancer – rhabdomyosarcoma – when she was eight months old and underwent chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

She tackled the 5k course in a wheelchair as she has undergone surgery to lengthen her leg bone that was left shorter as a result of her treatment and wears a metal frame.

Sophie dressed up as Snow White for the race which she took part in alongside her twin sister Hannah and friends from Elm Park School, Winterbourne.

She is now encouraging the 14,000 women who took part in the Cancer Research UK to hand over the money they have raised so it can go towards life-saving research in the city.

Researchers at Bristol University are studying the effect of fibre and vitamins in protecting against bowel cancer and more than 100 other clinical trials are being carried out across the country.

Sophie said: "I love taking part in Race for Life with my friends and family. Thanks to research, I am here today. I was determined to raise as much money as possible for Race for Life because I wanted to support Cancer Research UK's life-saving work."