Wolverhampton Race For Life turns park pink

Wearing tutus, leg warmers, wigs, cowboy hats and feather boas, thousands of fundraisers transformed Wolverhampton's West Park into a sea of pink for the city's seventh annual Race for Life.

More than 2,700 people ran, jogged or walked the 5km course to raise £140,000 for Cancer Research UK.

Click on the image to the right for more photos from West Park

Many wore pink cards containing personal messages to the loved ones they were running for.

Among the fundraisers was Wolverhampton soul diva Beverley Knight, who lost her dad to cancer in 2010.

"I don't know anyone who hasn't been affected by cancer and that's why we're all here," she said. "It's great to see such a massive turnout and it really brings the scale of this disease home."

She helped start the race, sounding a claxon with Wolves footballer Stephen Ward's fiancée India Lewis and cancer survivor Sally Cooper.

Among the runners was 50-year-old Helen Probert, running in memory of her father Maurice Cosgrove who died of lung cancer in 1992.

"It's all about the atmosphere and sharing the experience," said Helen, from Bradmore. "My dad will be my inspiration when I go round."

Carol Hill, 67, of Willenhall, survived cancer last year and helped raise £300. She said: "It's a really great thing to do. It means a lot."

Eleanor Rourke, of West Bromwich, raised £700 with a friend. Her uncle Don Bird, aged 78, is currently suffering from lung cancer, while her cousin's son, 10-year-old Dawson Davidson, has leukemia.

"The race was great although I ache a bit now," Eleanor said.

Races have already taken place in Walsall and Sutton Coldfield and will be at Himley Park, Dudley, on July 15 and Stafford Showground on July 10.