FIFTY friends and family will be running in memory of a "shining light" at Sunday's Race For Life.

So far more than £12,000 has been raised in memory of Demi Wright, 22, who died in February of an aggressive cancer.

Cousin Zoe King, of Maldon Approach, Colchester, along with 52 others, will be shunning pink and dressing up in yellow, Demi's favourite colour, to run the event in Castle Park.

Mrs King, 33, said: "There will be a block of yellow in the sea of pink on Sunday.

"I have run Race For Life several times and only a few days after she passed I knew I would be doing it completely for her this year.

"My original target was £150 but within the hour that had been surpassed.

"It went to £1,000 in just a week. We just kept exceeding our targets so we stopped making one.

"We got a team together and Demi's mum, sister, auntie and three cousins will be running. Since then more family and friends have joined and it's now more than 50."

Demi, a former pupil at Alderman Blaxill, in Colchester, started suffering pains in her side in November last year.

The make-up artist, who worked at Lancome, in Williams and Griffin, was admitted to a maternity ward after it was discovered a tumour was emitting hormones similar to those in pregnancy.

Doctors found the 12cm growth, known as an adenocarcinoma, had spread around her body.

Demi was transferred to Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge, but her health quickly deteriorated.

After three weeks at Addenbrooke’s, Demi died on February 23, surrounded by her family.

The team, named Demi's Donuts in memory of Demi's hairstyle, have been practicing on Wednesday nights around Abbey Field and Mrs King hopes to run a personal best in her memory.

Mrs King said it had been incredibly hard since Demi's passing but the race had given them all something to focus on.

She said: "We wanted to pull all the positives we can from what has happened.

"I think she would be completely overwhelmed with the support, like we are.

"She was very modest and I don't think she would realise or understand why so many people are interested.

"People have been so generous and we want to thank them all.

"Demi was an absolute shining light and I think she'll be very proud on Sunday."

To donate go to justgiving.com/zoegilchrist0