THOUSANDS of women slapped on their war paint and braved a sea of mud as they came together to help beat cancer.

About 2,500 ladies and teenagers got stuck into the mud-filled 5km obstacle course across South Park on Saturday.

It was the first time charity Cancer Research UK (CRUK) brought its Race for Life Pretty Muddy event to the city, with hopes of raising £105,000 for the cause.

Event manager Kelly Rumble said: "It was fantastic. The ladies started off looking lovely and ended up completely covered head to toe in mud but they loved every minute of it. There were some emotional faces when people remembered the reason why they were doing it - in the memory of loved ones and also celebrating the lives [of people who have survived].

"This money is really going to the people of Oxford. Everyone knows someone who had cancer, has got cancer, has passed away or survived. It's really important to try and come together and fight it".

Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life is a series of women-only events that raise cash to fund research into the 200 types of cancer being fought by people across the UK.

Money raised by those in the Oxford event, which saw women's bright pink T-shirts drenched in mud, will go towards work at the CRUK Oxford Centre.

The Roosevelt Road research centre launched in 2010 in a partnership between Oxford University, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust and Cancer Research UK.

Miss Rumble said she was "moved" by the women and youngsters taking part, finding it "touching" to see participants proudly cross the finish line.

The 37-year-old, who was supported at the event by more than 50 volunteers, added: "Everyone has their own story to tell about why they are doing it. It's really hard not to get choked up inside.

The event, which meandered through South Park, also saw male volunteers cheer on fundraisers as they battled the elements.

Oxford city councillor for Churchill Mark Lygo said he was "really proud" to volunteer at the "well organised" event and had a great day.

Organisers are now looking at bringing the muddy obstacle course back to Oxford as an annual fundraiser.

Annette Mitchell was part of group Team Tina, which battled the course in memory of friend Tina Pinkney who died from cancer in 2009.

The mother-of-two, from Drayton, said: "It was absolutely brilliant, we thoroughly enjoyed it. Tina ran the Race for Life when she had cancer in 2008. We just thought we would carry it on".