A brave mother from Bury St Edmunds is planning to stand on stage in front of thousands of people and talk about having terminal breast cancer.

After nearly a year of treatment, Amanda Coppins, 44, was given just months to live last month when scans revealed the cancer had spread to her lungs.

Ms Coppins, who is determined to leave a lasting legacy for her nine-year-old daughter Grace, plans to share her story on stage at Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life event at Bury’s Nowton Park on the afternoon of June 22.

About 3,000 women are expected to take part in the 5k and 10k events during the day in an effort to raise more than £180,000 for the charity.

Despite undergoing chemotherapy treatment, Ms Coppins took part last year’s 5k Race for Life with her daughter and mother dressed as an Oompa-Loompa from her favourite film, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

She said: “We loved doing the Race for Life because it gives you a real sense of achievement, no matter how fast or slow you are.

“I’m living on borrowed time now but I’m looking forward to sharing my story with the women taking part this year because I want Grace to realise that she’s not alone.

“I went through a really tough period when I had a bad diet and I drank too much. I didn’t appreciate what I had and I can’t help wondering if I’d looked after myself more then I might not be in this situation now. That’s the message I want to get across to people - look after yourself because life is worth living.”

Ms Coppins was diagnosed with breast cancer in April last year.

She said: “It was heartbreaking telling Grace but she’s a fighter. She was born with three holes in her heart so she’s extra special to me. I’d do anything to see her grow up but it’s not meant to be.

“Instead I want to use what little time I have left to make sure other families don’t have to suffer the same fate.”

Paula Young, Cancer Research UK’s spokesperson in Suffolk, said: “We’re enormously grateful to Amanda for offering to share her story on stage. Thanks to research more people are beating cancer than ever before but Amanda’s story shows just how much more work there is to do.

“Our aim is that one day everyone will beat cancer. The more research we can fund, the sooner that day will come.”

Race for Life panel

Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life, in partnership with Tesco, is a women-only series of 5k and 10k events which raises millions of pounds every year to help beat cancer sooner.

In Suffolk and north Essex people can still sign up to the following Race for Life events:

•5k and 10k at 11am at Chantry Park in Ipswich on June 15;

•5k at 11am at Nowton Park in Bury St Edmunds on June 22, as well as a 5k and 10k at 2.30pm there on the same day;

•5k and 10k at 11am at Hylands Park in Chelmsford on July 6;

•5k at 11am at Lower Castle Park in Colchester on July 20, as well as a 5k at 2pm there on the same day;

•‘Pretty Muddy’ 5k obstacle challenge at 3pm, 3.15pm and 3.30pm at Trinity Park in Ipswich on September 7.

To enter one of Race for Life’s 5k or 10k events visit www.raceforlife.org or call 0845 600 6050.