4,500 Race for Life participants are set to raise more than £250,000 from a weekend of events in Sheffield - but the numbers only tell part of the story.
Cancer Research UK organised races in Graves Park on Saturday and Sunday ,including a 3K, 5K, 10K and two muddy ones.
But the outfits, motivations and messages set it apart from the average fun run.
People’s reason for racing was pinned to T-shirts, including: ‘My husband Steve and everyone!’, ‘For my Dad and everyone who is still fighting!’, “For my mum!’
At the finish line, there was laughter and tears that, for some, were not just due to the rigours of the run.
Sharon Astbury said she was running after being diagnosed with breast cancer five years ago, followed by chemotherapy, surgery and radiotherapy.
This year, she said she was diagnosed with incurable bone cancer - which turned out to be a broken rib.
She said: “So, I am cancer free!”
Event manager Laura Cass said they’d had about 500 more participants than last year and were on track to raise £252,000.
Since its first outing in 1994, Race for Life has raised nearly £1 billion for the charity.
1. Race for Life Graves Park
Lisa Kerrigan, Isla Kerrigan, 6, and Sharon Astbury. | IM Photo: dw
