With the launch of this year’s Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month in March, a Poundbury women is taking on an impressive challenge to raise awareness of ovarian cancer with younger women.

Krissy Tripp, 20, is a familiar face on Queen Mother Square and you might have seen her running around the Gallery on the Square where she works part time, serving up tea and cakes.

But this March, Krissy will be doing a lot more running around as she takes on a a mile-a-day challenge for 50 days. The challenge will raise awareness and funds for GO Girls! - who support women with gynaecological cancers.

“I’ve been following the work of GO Girls! for a while now. I felt really inspired by the energy and fun they bring to their work, whilst supporting women and their families with this life-limiting disease,” she said.

So I wanted to do something to help and that would challenge me personally - I’ve never run before,” she said.

Krissy will start her challenge on March 1 and plans to vlog her progress on Instagram.

She is hoping to raise £1000 for GO Girls! and is planning a series of bingo and quiz nights to help with her fundraising efforts.

“Before I met the GO Girls! I knew very little about ovarian cancer. I believe it’s really important that all women should be aware of the symptoms of ovarian cancer- if we don’t make ourselves aware at a young age, we won’t know what symptoms to look out for or be able to educate our own children. If we are to improve earlier diagnosis - we need to wise up,” she said.

Teresa Wolff, vice chair of GO Girls! said: “We are all immensely proud of Krissy. Ovarian cancer affects over 6,500 women in the UK every year and not all of these are, as many presume, ‘middle-aged’. The youngest member of our group is only 13.

“Younger women have the opportunity to make a real difference for the future, by not only educating themselves, but making a real difference to ensure all women know the common symptoms. We know early diagnosis is likely to improve survival.”

GO Girls! use a simple acronym to help women recognise the key symptoms - the ABDO Code.

• A for abdominal pain
• B for bloating and feeling full quickly
• D for disturbed bowel or urinating more often
• O for organising an appointment with your GP.

Hilary Maxwell, chair of GO Girls! said: “The ABDO Code is a simple way to remember key symptoms. The more women familiarise themselves with the code, the more likely they are to be in tune with their bodies and act promptly, if necessary.”

Follow Krissy’s progress from March on her Instagram page @krissymileaday and to donate visit https://justgiving.com/crowdfunding/krissies50daychallenge4gogirls