Race for Life: Thousands brave downpour at Himley Hall to raise £100,000 for cancer fight

A sea of pink descended on Himley Hall as toddlers, mothers, and grandmothers ran, walked and jogged a 5km course around the historic estate in aid of Cancer Research UK.

Race for Life has become a regular feature across the region with hundreds of thousands of pounds being raised.

There were two races at the estate yesterday with more than 3,000 taking part. They were watched by an army of friends and family who endured heavy rainfall.

Among those taking part was a group of 30 women from across the Black Country who dubbed themselves the Stourbridge Stars.

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Dee Smith from Wordsley was running in memory of her mum Joan who died from cancer.

She said: "It is my first time running. Cancer affects so many people so I wanted to do my bit.

"The weather hasn't been so great but it's all a bit of fun for a very worthy cause."

Her friend Wendy Marsh from Gornal added: "I've come out to support all those who have lost loved ones to cancer. I'm fortunate enough for it not to have affected my family but I wanted to do my bit.

"Everyone is in great spirits and it is a wonderful day regardless of the weather."

And Michelle Green from Kingswinford, who helped organise the Stourbridge Stars, said: "The atmosphere here is amazing.

"In total we have more than 30 in our group alone.

"I ran it last year and it is unbelievable.

"There such a feel good feeling about the place. Everyone encourages each other and we all pull together to complete it.

"It really is worth taking part and all the money raised is for an important cause that affects everybody at some stage."

Tracey Duffy, Cancer Research UK's West Midlands events manager, said she hoped the event would raise £105,000.

She said: "It is amazing to see so many women taking part in this event which is the biggest we have done.

"The more money we can raise the more research we can do.

"We can now say that a patient diagnosed with cancer has over 60 per cent chance of survival. It is through our research that we have been able to get breast cancer death rates falling.

"Race for Life events are not competitive. They are not about being fit or fast. Women can complete the courses at their own pace, enjoying the camaraderie of being part of an army of women coming together in the fight against cancer."

Clare Moore travelled from Birmingham with her family to take part in memory of her dad John who died four years ago.

She said: "It is the first time we have taken part but we all wanted to do something. We have raised more than £1,000.

"It is such a fun atmosphere here and everybody is supportive."

Next weekend, Cofton Park in Longbridge stages both 10km and Pretty Muddy Race for Life events on Saturday, July 18.

Money raised through Race for Life allows Cancer Research UK's doctors, nurses and scientists to advance research which is helping to save the lives of men, women and children.

The charity estimates that about 34,000 women in the region will have taken part in its events this year helping to raise about £1.9 million.

The breast cancer survival rate in England is now more than 95 per cent.