THOUSANDS of runners raced to the finish line to raise thousands at this weekend’s Race for Life.
Warm weather, cool breezes, a flat terrain and cheering crowds made conditions ideal for the annual run, which raises cash for Cancer Research UK.
This year’s 5km run started and finished at Leeds Road Playing Fields and took in St Andrew’s Road and the Galpharm Stadium.
About 5,000 women and girls took part in runs on Saturday and Sunday which raised approximately £270,000 for the charity.
People in wheelchairs, mums with babies in pushchairs and family dogs participated – even a woman with a broken ankle managed to hobble on crutches to the finish in 45 minutes.
Cancer Research event manager Imogen Johnson said: “The sun has been shining and everybody has been having a great day.
“It’s really nice to use Leeds Road Playing Fields, because it’s flat and enclosed so it creates a great atmosphere.”
Among the youngest runners was Rachel Hobson, six, of Brighouse, who said: “I really enjoyed it. I saw it last year and I really want to run it.”
And little Emma Handy, a pupil atReinwood Infant School, aged just five, ran the race in 55 minutes and 15 seconds. She said: “I liked running to the finish line and everyone cheered.”
Her proud mum Helen, of Marsh, added: “She was quite tired as she’s used to running in little spurts, but she’s full of beans again now and loved it.”
Claire Sutton, 30, of Leeds, finished the run in 35 minutes – just two weeks after giving birth to son Joshua.
Mrs Sutton said: “Having had Joshua a few weeks ago I didn’t think I could do it, but I did it in 35 minutes.
“This is much easier ground than at Temple Newsam where it’s very uneven.”
Karen Rayner, of Dewsbury, ran in memory of her mother-in-law who died of cancer and for her mother who survived breast cancer.
Her three-year-old daughter Caitlin ran alongside her mum for a quarter of the race.
Mrs Rayner, 33, said: “It was good. There was a nice breeze and it took the edge of the heat. I did it in less than one hour.
“The atmosphere was very good. That’s what I like about the Race for Life.
“One of my friends was diagnosed with cervical cancer and it’s really close to home.”
Sisters Laura and Charlotte Saxton, of Gomersal, regularly run the Race for Life.
Laura, 24, said: “It was really good.
“Everyone was cheering everyone. It was a really enjoyable experience.
Charlotte, 27, added: “I know quite a few people who have died to cancer, but I just had written on my back: ‘To everyone who has had to be brave’.”
