The healthy eating message has been put across in a variety of creative ways by borough schoolchildren.

More than 100 students from Harrow primary schools designed posters in a competition organised by the promoters of the Relay For Life event, which will take place at the Bannister Sports Centre, Uxbridge Road, Harrow Weald, from 12.30pm on September 13 to raise money for charity Cancer Research UK.

Vaarun Rajkumar, of Buckingham College, Harrow, won the 8-9 age category with a story about a junk food addict who exploded, while Zoe Constable of St Helens College was the winner in the 9-11 age category for her detailed, character-driven healthy-eating poster, chosen by Observer editor David Tilley. The children each receive their prizes of £25 book tokens at the event's opening ceremony.

The other entrants' posters will be displayed at Tube stations throughout Harrow borough.

Gillian Moss, the co-chairman of the Relay For Life, said: "The standard of entries was really high, with some very imaginative designs and powerful messages."

The relay is a non-athletic community

and family fun day that celebrates cancer survivors and people still fighting the dis-ease, remembers those lost and encourages healthier lifestyles.

The event will feature a cancer survivors' lap, a 'candle of hope' ceremony and a whole host of activities, including Harrow's biggest line dance, circus work-shop, spacehopper races, fete stalls and music from Canons School steel band and R&B group.

Mrs Moss added: "Last year's event raised £85,000 and we're hoping to match that this year. There will be a lot for families to do in the afternoon and I hope people come along and be part of it.

"The candle of hope ceremony and cancer survivors' lap are really powerful and important moments. It's hard to get across to people who haven't witnessed it how powerful the candle of hope ceremony is.

"There is a whole range of teams so that we can really reflect Harrow as a whole, which is really important for us."

Twenty-five teams have signed up for the 20-hour continuous relay, including sea cadets, family groups and religious groups. The relay will start at 2pm and is being backed by Waitrose Harrow Weald, Harrow Primary Care Trust, cancer support charities and Leisure Connection Ltd.

For more information go online and visit http://harrowrelay.blogspot.com. ..SUPL: