TWO thousand women braved the rain - and traffic queues - to join the Race for Life at Heythrop Park yesterday to raise money for Cancer Research UK.

Runners were forced to set off almost half an hour late as traffic built up on the long drive approaching the stately home, near Chipping Norton.

But race organiser Rosannah Dawood said runners were in "amazingly high spirits" despite the weather and the late start.

She said: "It takes a while to get all the traffic onto the site, but nobody has complained because it's such a great cause."

Ms Dawood said she expected the 5km race to raise about £154,000 for the charity.

Many of the runners were taking part because they have lost loved ones to cancer or they are supporting friends who are receiving treatment.

Julie Thompson, 52, from Hook Norton, was running for Barbara Henderson, her friend's mother, who is receiving treatment for cancer.

She was running with Tracy Knight, 35, from Bodicote, near Banbury, and other women from Banbury-based Bibby Financial Services.

Mrs Knight added: "I'm running in memory of my gran who died 20 years ago from breast cancer. We are hoping to raise £1,000 and for every penny we raise, the firm has promised to double it."

Amanda Barnard, 35, was running with her daughter Sian, sister Rebecca Jarvis, and mum Angela Jarvis in memory of her grandmother Florina Lines, who died aged 60 in 1987.

They all wore T-shirts with a picture of Mrs Lines on the back and Ms Barnard said: "Back then there probably wasn't such sophisticated treatment available.

"Every penny raised for research is a good thing because it helps with the search for improving the treatment of cancer.

"When you run in a race like this you feel you are making a difference. I hope I'm wrong but one day it could be one of us needing treatment."

Nicki Gambrell, 43, who lives near Bicester, was running the race for the fourth time with her friends and family.

She said: "One of our friends has been plagued with cancer over the years and my grandmother Eira Gold, she died from cancer in 1976 when she was 65.

"We don't mind running in the rain - it's such a good cause."

Sara Anthony, 39, and Tracy Hey, from Milton-under-Wychwood, ran the race together to support friends and family suffering the disease.

Mrs Anthony said: "I'm running for my mum, who has had breast cancer, and for my friend Gabby, who is seriously ill."

The winner of the race was Fiona McLean, 45, who lives near Newbury. She completed the run in approximately 22 minutes.

Mrs McLean said: "My grandmother Dora Gurnett died of breast cancer. I've done this run for the past 10 years to try to raise awareness."

Harriet Bradford, 15, from Bloxham, near Banbury, came third, in 22 minutes, 59 seconds.

She said: "I run this race because it's a good cause. I came fourth last year."

Oxfordshire is one of the event's top earning locations and, earlier this month, more than 6,000 women ran through Oxford's University Parks to raise £641,000.