21/07/13 Pictures from Race for Life on Parkers Piece, Cambridge. Picture by Keith Heppell
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The streets of Cambridge were flooded with pink as 7,000 women stepped out in the fight against cancer.
Charity Cancer Research UK was hoping to raise ?480,000 to fund ground-breaking research from today?s Race for Life, a women-only 5km event weaving its way around the city?s landmarks.
Among the participants were brave cancer patients who were determined to do their bit - for their own generation, and for those to come.
Sarah Greenwood, from Cherry Hinton, took part just days after undergoing a second course of chemotherapy for breast cancer.
The 42-year-old said: ?I really needed to this, I just decided to stand up, I don?t want to be brought down by this.
?I only signed up on Thursday because I didn?t think I would be up to it, having just had a second course of chemo, but I?ve raised ?400 so I?m really pleased.?
Sarah, who was joined by pal Kathy Dickinson, 42, from Newmarket, added: ?It?s great - I?m amazed by how many women come together in this way and the women I have meet have been brilliant, and so strong.?
Debbie Parry, from Melbourn, was supported by her daughter and friends as she ran the course - just after finishing chemotherapy for breast cancer, and two weeks before she undergoes a mastectomy.
The 52-year-old said: ?I had the diagnosis in February and started chemo on March 8, which finished on June 21.
?But I wanted to it because it?s great to see people come and support the Race for Life, it?s just brilliant.?
The event started on Parker?s Piece before weaving through the city, via King?s College, to Jesus Green.
Support came from the News as well as radio station Heart Cambridgeshire - whose breakfast show presenters Kev Lawrence and Ros Webb entertained the crowds before the start.
Many participants were running for friends and relatives who were fighting the disease - and in memory of others who had succumbed to it.
Tania Clark, 36, has been taking part in the event for an incredible 15 years on the trot, in memory of her dad John Clark.
The Cambridge man lost his battle against cancer 18 years ago, at the age of 56, and Tania, who grew up in the city but has since moved to Peterborough, said this was an important motivation.
Standing alongside friend Lisa Wilson, 36, from Huntingdon, she said: ?It?s to improve the care for everybody else so they can have the chance that my dad didn?t have.
?Every year there is a breakthrough and I feel we have come a long way in the last 18 years.?
Marjorie Brammer, from Sutton, was running in memory of her husband Derek, who died from liver cancer at the age of 75 last year.
She was joined by her granddaughter Gemma Crosby, 25, also from Sutton - who was not deterred by being five months pregnant, although she was planning to walk rather than run.
Marjorie, 74, said: ?It?s very emotional, but the atmosphere is so great.?
Also among the participants were medics and nurses at the forefront of the battle against cancer.
Student nurse Nancy McCarthy, 44, had been persuaded to travel up from London to take part by her daughter Olivia, aged 10.
She said: ?All the wards I?ve worked in have had cancer patients and they have been really inspirational.
?I can?t believe how many people took part, it?s enormous.?
Paula Young from Cancer Research UK described the event as ?amazing?.
She said: ?It was great to see thousands of women all coming together for the same reason, to beat cancer sooner.
?Now what we would like to do is ask everybody to return sponsorship money because without that we couldn?t do the amazing work we have been doing and that needs to continue.
?Although we are making huge progress, much more still needs to be done so that sponsorship money is vital.?
Get tomorrow?s News for a special 12-page pullout packed with inspiring stories and fantastic photos from today?s event.
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