CROWDS of fundraisers descended on Prospect Park on Sunday for the annual Race for Life event.

The fun runs attracted thousands of women and girls, who all joined forces in a bid to fight cancer.

Competitors had the option of walking 5km, 10km or taking part in the Pretty Muddy event on the Saturday.

More than 3,600 women of all ages and abilities stepped out for a good cause and remembered their loved ones by wearing a message during the races.

Fiona Miller, event manager for Cancer Research UK Reading, said: “Life-saving research is being funded right now thanks to people like the women of Reading who join the fight at Race for Life.

“By taking part and raising money, our participants play a crucial role in helping to turn discoveries made in the lab into new, better treatments for patients in Reading and across the UK and we would like to thank everyone who took part in the event last weekend.

“The atmosphere on both days was hugely moving as people came together to remember loved ones lost to cancer or celebrate the lives of those dear to them who have survived. Race for Life offers a unique opportunity for like-minded ladies to unite against a disease that affects us all in some way."

One in two people in the UK will be diagnosed with cancer at some stage in their lives.

Cancer survival in the UK has doubled since the early 1970s, with Race for Life events contributing thousands of pounds to help fund vital research every year.

Dr Áine McCarthy, Cancer Research UK’s senior science communications officer, added: “There are over 200 types of cancer and we need continued investment in research to help us find new ways to prevent, diagnose and treat them all.

"That is why we need everyone who took part in Race for Life in Reading to take the vital last step by returning their sponsorship money so that our scientists, doctors and nurses can continue to make vital strides forward in research.”

Visit: raceforlife.cancerresearchuk.org for more information.