3,000 in the pink for Race for Life

The grounds of an historic mansion in the Midlands were a sea of pink as thousands of runners in colourful costumes turned out for charity.

The first Cancer Research UK Race for Life at Himley Park attracted a maximum 3,000 entrants.

Every one of the women taking part seemed to be wearing an item of pink clothing for the 5k fun run yesterday.

Organisers hope the event will have brought in more than £200,000 to fight cancer once all sponsorship has been collected.

While many of the women taking part had lost loved ones to the disease the mood was upbeat. Two groups, one setting out at 11am and another at 3pm, took part in an energetic warm-up before making their way to the start line.

The course had been marked out in pink tape and women who were running the distance set off first, followed by those walking it.

Among those hoping to set the pace were 26-year-old travel worker Kelly Bunce and accountant Natalie Brookes, aged 30.

The pair were strikingly dressed in the skimpy shorts and running vest outfits of 118118 advert fame, complete with fake moustaches and pink accessories.

Miss Bunce, of Penn Road, Wolverhampton, said they were inspired to run their first Race for Life for the people they knew who had battled cancer.

"Some have survived and some haven't and this is for all of them," she said. "We are hoping to raise £400 between us and it would be nice to do it in half an hour.

"Someone said to us they would quadruple our sponsorship if we ran dressed as the 118118 men, so that's why we look like this."

Sisters-in-law Lissa Hickman and Trudi Ford were also dressed to impress, in matching pink tutus. Sandwell Council project officer, Mrs Hickman, and executive assistant Mrs Ford, were taking part in their fourth Race for Life having completed three at Sandwell Valley Country Park.

Mrs Hickman, aged 43, of Tividale Street, Tipton, said: "It's the first year we have dressed up, it's a really fun event for a great cause."

Cancer Research UK West Midlands events manager Tracey Duffy said there had been a "wonderful atmosphere" at the run.