She will once again be accompanied by her children, James, 13, and 11-year-old Gabriella, who have run the 5k event for the last five years.
The family are looking to raise £1,000 for Cancer Research UK, and Sofia said: “It will be £100 for each year I have taken part in the race, to mark the occasion.”
Sofia’s cousin Mercedes, with whom she grew up, passed away after a long battle with breast cancer earlier this month. She said: “This year’s race will be in her memory and it will be all the more important to us.
“Cancer Research UK is a charity close to my heart as I had breast cancer 11 years ago.
“Thanks to the research carried out and new improved treatments, as a result I’m here today.
‘Now obviously they know mummy had cancer and that’s why they also wanted to be part of it. They know it’s important to me’
“I have been taking part in the Race for Life 5k since 2009, a year after being diagnosed. I’m grateful to be here, and to be able to do my bit for such an important cause.”
She added: “My children got involved in Race for Life because I started doing it when they were four and two years old, and my husband Kitt always brought them to the park to watch me.
“Once they were old enough, they wanted to take part as well as they thought it was fun, and we told them that it was for a very good cause and that we were helping people.
“Now obviously they know mummy had cancer and that’s why they also wanted to be part of it. They know it’s important to me.”
Cancer Research UK says survival rates have doubled over the past 40 years, and improvements to technology and groundbreaking work offer new opportunities to find different ways to prevent, diagnose and treat cancer.
Sofia, who hosts an evening of Colombian cuisine in her home once a month, said: “We’ll be donating £5 for each individual guest attending our Colombian night from now until June.”
She held an empanada sale in her garden on Saturday February 16, with all profits going to the charity. The savoury pastries are made with maze flour, which is gluten free.
“I made the empanadas and my children did the sale and took in the money, so they were in charge!”
Sofia, who is from the port city of Cartagena in Colombia, started her dinner parties in 2013 after being inspired by pop-ups in Cuba, where families opened up their homes.
Sofia’s Colombian Kitchen was awar-ded a Certificate of Excellence by Trip Advisor for two years in row in 2016-17.
To make a donation, search for ‘Sofia and kids race of life’ at fundraise.cancerresearchuk.org
