NEWCASTLE’S Town Moor became a sea of pink yesterday as thousands of women celebrated friends and loved- ones in the annual Race for Life.
Runners of all ages and abilities took part in the event, which is organised by Cancer Research UK. More than 7,000 women donned pink T-shirts, tutus and other forms of fancy dress as they covered the 5km route around the moor.
The run saw more than 2,000 extra people take part compared with last year’s event.
Among those running for the first time was Kerry Brewster. The 25-year-old, who was running in memory of her mum Valerie Richards, was selected to officially start the race.
She said: “My mum died in February this year. She was only 59 and was the happiest, bubbliest person I have ever known. She died from liver cancer in St Oswald’s Hospice. The care she received in her final days was very good and the staff there couldn’t have done more.”
Kerry, from Pegswood, Northumberland, said: “I decided to do the Race for Life to help find a cure for cancer. It’s going to be something I’ll do every year from now on. It was a great privilege to be able to start the race. Looking out on all those women who have in some way been affected by cancer was very moving.”
The run usually takes place in Exhibition Park but building work this year meant the start and finish was relocated to the Town Moor. Runners were taken through a mass warm-up before the race and also heard stories from cancer survivors and those carrying out research into the disease.
