Charity runners turn park to sea of pink

Sandwell Valley was turned into a sea of pink, as more than 7,000 women laced up their trainers to raise cash for charity.

Two races were held in the parkland off Dagger Lane in West Bromwich yesterday – with 3,600 people taking part in the morning event and 3,500 in the afternoon race.

Hundreds more turned out to watch – with many making a day of it. Early estimates show the race has already made £300,000 for the Cancer Research UK charity.

People left message on a huge noticeboard, which included a photograph of former Aston Villa player Paul Birch, who died in February at the age of 46 after battling bone cancer.

Although the mood was upbeat, with many runners donning tutus, fairy wings, wings and wands it was an emotional occasion for many, who were running in memory of family and friends.

Clare Grove, aged 36, of Willetts Road, Halesowen, ran with daughters Sophie and Shannon Elliott, 17 and 13, and colleague Sarah Cartwright, 24, in memory of her father Alan Willetts, 64, who died of the disease just weeks ago.

She said: "This is something that we really wanted to in his memory. Donations at the funeral raised £750 for charity and we are hoping to have raised about £200 between us today."

Marie Stokes, 40, of Remington Road, Walsall, is a teaching assistant at the town's Atherton Primary.

She said: "I am running in memory of a good friend, Sharon Plant, who I worked with as a teaching assistant and who died last year and in support of by sister Michelle, 38, who is a cancer survivor." Marie was running with Michelle Watkins, 31, a carer from Palfrey whose father Anthony Cullum has survived the disease.

Cannock hairdresser Emily Jeavons, 24, and her mother Lorraine Jeavons, 47, a secretary from Clover Ridge, Cheslyn Hay, were running in memory of a friend, Mike Pearce, who died of cancer in December 2002.

Heidi Cooper, 20 of Brackenfield View, Dudley, and Ruth Foster, 18, of The Broadway, Dudley, were among a group from the 3rd Halesowen Girls' Brigade running in the afternoon event. Heidi said: "Cancer is a disease that has touched both our families. "We wanted to be part of something that would help other suffers and their families."

Cancer Research UK hopes that together they will raise a total of £60 million.