A BOURNEMOUTH teenager is calling upon youngsters to throw on their skates to help raise funds for Cancer Research UK.

After taking part in Race for Life two years ago, Emily Coleman decided to organise a children’s equivalent and rallied together dozens of children to whiz around the running track at Winton Recreation Ground on their roller skates, scooters and skateboards.

Last year fifty skaters, aged between seven and 16, took up the challenge raising more than £1,500 from the event.

“I set it up after I had just started roller skating,” the 13-year-old explained.

“There is nothing else like it and I just wanted to do something a bit more kid friendly.”

She added: “Race For Life is just for women, which excludes boys, and younger kids don’t want to do it – they get a bit out of breath. We wanted to do something that all the kids could do.”

Now the Bournemouth School for Girls pupil is hoping this year’s Sk84life, which will take place on Sunday May 11, will be even bigger.

“Last year we were hoping to raise £500 but in the end we reached £1,500, which was amazing,” Emily said.

“We had about 50 people take part. This year we’re hoping there will be around 70.”

After losing a close family friend to cancer, the teenager said she was inspired to do something to support the charity.

“A lot of people we know have been affected by cancer,” she said. “It’s a charity that is very close to my heart and we just wanted to do something different.”

Emily and her friends will be skating around the running track at Winton Recreation Ground for one hour on May 11. Anyone aged between seven and 16 is invited to take part in the event.

Youngsters can download an application form at sk84life.co.uk or call 01202 257 597 for more information.