HUNDREDS of people affected by breast cancer wore pink and walked through Blenheim Palace to raise money and awareness for the disease.

Around 550 took part in the 10 or 20-mile events during the Pink Ribbonwalk at the Woodstock stately home on Saturday.

Organisers hope they will raise about £250,000 for Breast Cancer Care, which provides care and support for sufferers.

The event was started by Strictly Come Dancing star Brendan Cole, who won the first series of the BBC1 hit with television presenter Natasha Kaplinsky.

He said: “It is a good group of people pulling together to raise money for a great cause. There was a real feeling of togetherness.

“We are all very much aware of cancer.

“We all know someone going through it or who has gone through it.”

He added: “Events like this are mega important.”

One of those taking part was Cordelia Gover, 38, from East Hagbourne near Didcot, who was diagnosed with breast cancer aged 32. She has now been clear for six years.

The mum-of-two said: “It was quite a shock at my age because I did not know anyone else who had been through what I had.

“But I didn’t see it as a death sentence, I didn’t even think about death. I just thought about getting it out of me and all the treatment.”

She had a partial mastectomy and went through chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatments, losing her hair at one stage.

She said: “I am not a vain person at all but I have to admit losing my hair was the hardest and lowest point of the whole thing.”

Mrs Gover, who walked the event with her six-year-old Cocker Spaniel Sidney, added: “If I had to go through it again I would use this charity to say please find me someone of a similar age to give me advice.”

Breast Cancer Care head of events Claire Pulford said: “It has been absolutely brilliant.

“It is so exciting to still be coming back to Blenheim after nine years and see the support as strong as it has been year after year since we started here.

“It is heart-warming when you look at the sea of pink, knowing all these women have been touched by breast cancer and are coming together to help raise vital funds in order to ensure that we can support everybody affected by the disease in the future.”