A TOWN’S park was flooded with a sea of pink as thousands of women ran, jogged, walked or danced their way around a 5km course to raise money for Cancer Research UK.

The event, held a day after the charity’s sister event the Pretty Muddy obstacle course, took place in Gloucester Park, in Basildon.

Make sure you do not miss our eight-page photo special from the race in Monday's paper. 

Thousands of women entered the event this year, with many choosing to take part in memory of a loved one and run with names and photos pinned to the back of their t-shirts.

Others decided to give people a giggle as they took part, donning fancy dress, huge pink bows in their hair, fairy wings and tutus.

Other women showed off they were part of a team by wearing matching outfits or t-shirts, often with poignant messages on in memory of someone affected by cancer.

There were tears from many during a moment of silence, held at each race to remember why it takes place, but the tears soon turned to smiles and laughter as the women were cheered around the course.

One in two people in the UK will be diagnosed with cancer at some stage in their lives, but thanks to research by charity’s such as Cancer Research UK more people are now surviving the disease than ever before; cancer survival has doubled since the early 1970s.

Cancer Research UK’s life-saving work relies on the public’s support.

Thanks to the generosity of its supporters, the charity was able to spend over £41 million last year in East Anglia on some of the UK’s leading scientific and clinical research - helping more men, women and children survive.

Sponsorship money can be paid in online, by phone, by cheque or in person at a Cancer Research UK shop.

For information on returning sponsorship money, or to make a donation to the charity, visit raceforlife.org