THEY came in their thousands to Prospect Park in Reading with one message - let's kick out cancer.

More than 4,700 women ran, jogged and walked around the 5km and 10km courses over the weekend, several carrying messages in memory of loved one, for this annual pilgrimage in pink for Cancer Research UK.

Organiser Simon Burley said that he was delighted with how the three events had gone - a Pretty Mudder on the Saturday and then 5km and 10km runs on Sunday.

"It has been a fantastic event and once again the ladies of Reading have come out in force," he said. "We had around 2,300 participants for the Pretty Mudder, 2,030 for the 5km and 452 for the 10km event. 

"And we are hopeful of raising in the region of £311,000 for Cancer Research UK, which is fantastic."

Patricia Llewellyn, 72, from Reading, was running the 5km event in memory of her daughter Jayne. "She died a couple of years ago from pancreatic cancer. Within three months of diagnosis she had passed away, leaving a daughter and she was just 45.

"Initially I was very angry, but now I want to fight back and today I am doing it for her."

Families and work colleagues ran together. Among them was a group of teachers from Highdown School in Caversham; Lisa Pattison, Jo Arnold and Charlotte Lobo. "We only told the children we were taking part in Race for Life this week, but they have been so supportive," said Jo, who works as a special needs co-ordinator.

"We are doing this because we want to raise money for Cancer Research but also to lose weight. Between us we have lost six stone since the start of the year, and this was our goal."

Tell us your story if you took part in Race for Life. Why did you take part and how much did you raise? Email Dave King at: dave.king@newsquest.co.uk