The baseball caps and cycling shorts were out in force yesterday for the Women's Race for Life at Knavesmire.

On a sweltering day, more than four hundred women ran to raise money for research into cancers which affect women.

A local fitness instructor was drafted in to lead a ten-minute warm up and then they were off on their five kilometre route round the perimeter of the course.

Each competitor seemed to have a different reason for taking part but many had friends and relatives who had died or were suffering from cancer.

Sonia Sawyer, of Bolton Percy, near York, was running with her friend Tamsin Edge. She said: "We are taking part in celebration of my daughter Jane who is fighting cancer at the moment."

Tamsin said: "We have been around people who have lost people and who are suffering and it is an issue very close to the heart."

Justine Thompson, of Boston Spa, said: "We have all known friends who have died from breast cancer or suffered from it.

"This race will raise some money and raise awareness."

Since the first race four years ago, £2 million has been raised for the Imperial Cancer Research Fund and it was hoped that the race in York would raise more than £16,000.

Race for Life Manager Cathy Lowe said: "Race for Life is now in its fourth year and we will have fifty races in the country this year.

"This is the first time we've come to York and this is a really good start which we want to build on next year."

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