THOUSANDS of women donned bright outfits before taking on a 5km course to raise money for Cancer Research UK at the weekend.

Crowds cheered the competitors round the University Parks in Oxford as they tackled temperatures reaching up to 28C in this year’s Race for Life.

Many women walking, jogging or running the course were taking part in memory of a loved one who had died from cancer, or for someone currently fighting the disease.

Cancer Research UK estimates about 6,000 women took part in the three races over Saturday and Sunday, raising up to £470,000.

Race for Life organiser Becky Ryczowski paid tribute to everyone who took part.

She said: “It has been absolutely fantastic, we are thrilled with how it went. The atmosphere was brilliant and the weather was perfect.

“All the women did brilliantly and gave it everything and we are so grateful for all their efforts.”

Miss Ryczowski added runners were already pledging to take part in next year’s run. She said: “We had a new scheme this year where women could drop off their race numbers with us to let us know that they wanted to take part next year.

“We must have had more than 500 left with us, which is a brilliant result.”

Best friends Chrissy Kent, 23, Sophie Varney, 24, and Nicola Kennedy, 25, drove down from their homes in Bicester and all ran in memory of their grandmothers.

Miss Kent said: “It was quite hot but there was a lovely atmosphere around the course.”

Karen Billen and Charlotte Ordish, both from Watlington, donned pink wigs as part of their outfits.

Miss Ordish ran in support of a long-time friend and cancer sufferer, while Miss Billen ran for her brother-in-law, who is also battling the disease.

Miss Ordish said: “It was a bit of a struggle but we did it.

“People around the course were shouting encouragement and telling us they like our wigs, which really helped keep us going.”

Sam Bickley, 30, was joined by daughter Megan, nine, in Saturday morning’s run. Two years ago, Mrs Bickley’s grandmother, Joan Hobbs, died of breast cancer and only eight weeks ago she lost her grandfather, Clive Godwin, to kidney cancer.

She said: “It was our first time running Race for Life and it was fantastic. It was a poignant day, although very uplifting too.

“My gramps died quite suddenly and we had applied to run before his death, so we also ran in his memory.”

LIz Cockman and her seven best friends, all from the Wallingford area, ran to support the work of Cancer Research UK.

She said: “One of the girls running recently lost her mother in law recently, and another lost her auntie.

“We didn’t think twice about signing up.”

In 2009, 5,000 women took part in Race for Life in Oxford and helped raise £344,364 for Cancer Research UK. Every pound raised in sponsorship or fundraising helps to fund the work of over 4,500 researchers, doctors and nurses dedicated to helping more people beat cancer.