A SCHOOLGIRL has done her late grandfather proud after beating thousands of runners to finish second at Peterborough’s Race for Life.

Mollie Allen, 12, from Rhonda Park, Wimblington, powered through the field of more than 3,000 female runners who were completing the 5km race to raise money for Cancer Research UK.

The Wisbech Grammar School pupil was taking part in memory of her grandfather Geoff Allen who died from cancer in 2008.

Mollie said: “As I was running I thought I wanted to do my best to make my grandad proud and it inspired me because I didn’t expect to do so well.

“My nan Sandra was crying at the end so I gave her a big hug and she said he’d have been well chuffed with how I did. It meant a lot to me to hear that.

“I really enjoyed the race because the atmosphere was amazing and people clapped and cheered us along.”

Mollie finished little more than a minute behind winner Ruth Watson, 31, crossing the line in 20 minutes and 58 seconds. She raised �100 for Cancer Research by completing the race, which, in total, raised more than �212,000 for the charity.

The 12-year-old, who swims for Chatteris Kingfishers and Cambridgeshire, said: “I don’t run for a club at the moment but I enjoy running. In the future I’d like to do triathlon so I can swim and run in the same event - I’ve just got to sort the cycling part out now!”

Her proud mum Alison said: “Mollie doesn’t get her sporting side from me. I think she gets it from her dad Paul - he played football for Soham Town Rangers and March Town United.

“We’re both thrilled with how well she did and the fact that she raised money for Cancer Research. I’m sure Geoff would have been looking down with a smile.”