Former BBC broadcaster Bill Turnbull sent a poignant message to women competing in Ipswich’s Race for Life this weekend: don’t leave it too late to get checked for cancer.

Ipswich Star: Families took on the race together Picture: STEPHEN WALLERFamilies took on the race together Picture: STEPHEN WALLER (Image: � Stephen Waller)

Mr Turnbull asked colleague and friend Gary Stevens, a Heart FM DJ who helped host the event, to share some important words of advice with fundraisers running for Cancer Research UK at Trinity Park.

Classic FM host Mr Turnbull, who recently moved to Woodbridge, was diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer last year.

Addressing the crowd, Mr Stevens said Mr Turnbull had complained about “not feeling right” for a long time before seeking medical help.

“He said if he did something earlier his prognosis may have been better so he said please can you tell the brave ladies of Ipswich if they don’t feel right or if they are having a chat with someone who says they don’t feel right, please don’t be afraid to go to someone and say you don’t feel right because by doing that you can save a life,” Mr Stevens said.

Ipswich Star: Participants enjoyed basking sunshine Picture: STEPHEN WALLERParticipants enjoyed basking sunshine Picture: STEPHEN WALLER (Image: � Stephen Waller)

The pair both work for the Heart radio network.

Cancer Research UK hosted a series of Race for Life events at Trinity Park this weekend including the Pretty Muddy obstacle course and 5k and 10k runs.

More than 3,000 women and children competed over the two days and raised a total of £178,000.

Gemma Richards from Ipswich was one of those taking part with her eight-month-old daughter, Rebecca, and partner, Gavin Abery, in the sidelines.

Ipswich Star: Thumbs up from racers Picture: STEPHEN WALLERThumbs up from racers Picture: STEPHEN WALLER (Image: � Stephen Waller)

She said: “I’m really working on my fitness because I want to be a role model for my daughter.”

Patricia Cobb, who ran alongside fellow volunteers at the Cancer Research UK shop in Felixstowe, lost her husband to cancer around 16 years ago.

She said: “You don’t feel so alone – I was quite young when I was widowed so when you see so many people here you think they have all been down the same road.”

Julie Nicholls, 72 and from Sudbury, chose to sign up because her husband has battled bladder cancer and her 44-year-old son is undergoing treatment for bowel cancer.

Ipswich Star: Colin Hammond, one of the volunteer crew at the Race for Life Picture: STEPHEN WALLERColin Hammond, one of the volunteer crew at the Race for Life Picture: STEPHEN WALLER (Image: � Stephen Waller)

She said: “They have both gone through a lot so I feel that if I put myself out at my age and do it then I feel I have done something worthwhile.”

A Felixstowe woman who lost three loved ones in just one year pulled on her running shoes this weekend and joined the fight against cancer.

Emma Lockwood was motivated to sign-up for Race for Life in Ipswich after losing her grandmother, uncle and a good friend to different types of cancer in just one year.

The 41-year-old from Felixstowe also wanted to take on the challenge as part of her weight loss journey having shed four stone in just over a year.

Ipswich Star: Runners take on the Race for Life in Ipswich Picture: STEPHEN WALLERRunners take on the Race for Life in Ipswich Picture: STEPHEN WALLER (Image: � Stephen Waller)

She said: “I lost my gran, uncle and really good friend all to cancer last year and I recently lost four stone so this was incentive to keep the weight off and do something for cancer.”

Cheering on from the sideline was proud husband, Stephen.

The pair were also celebrating their seven-year wedding anniversary on the day of the race.

Mrs Lockwood had so far raised £850 in sponsorship.

Ipswich Star: Families cheering on from the sidelines Picture: STEPHEN WALLERFamilies cheering on from the sidelines Picture: STEPHEN WALLER (Image: � Stephen Waller)

Race for Life event manager Gemma Turpin described the atmosphere as“electric”.

Ipswich Star: Emma and Stephen Lockwood at Race for Life in Ipswich Picture: GEMMA MITCHELLEmma and Stephen Lockwood at Race for Life in Ipswich Picture: GEMMA MITCHELL (Image: GEMMA MITCHELL)

Ipswich Star: The event raises money for Cancer Research UK Picture: STEPHEN WALLERThe event raises money for Cancer Research UK Picture: STEPHEN WALLER (Image: � Stephen Waller)

Ipswich Star: Kimberly Dye, first home in the 10k race Picture: STEPHEN WALLERKimberly Dye, first home in the 10k race Picture: STEPHEN WALLER (Image: � Stephen Waller)

Ipswich Star: The atmosphere was described as 'electric' Picture: STEPHEN WALLERThe atmosphere was described as 'electric' Picture: STEPHEN WALLER (Image: � Stephen Waller)

Ipswich Star: A group of friends cross the finish line in the Race for Life at Trinity Park Picture: STEPHEN WALLERA group of friends cross the finish line in the Race for Life at Trinity Park Picture: STEPHEN WALLER (Image: � Stephen Waller)

Ipswich Star: Bal and Roshni after running in the Race for Life. Picture: STEPHEN WALLERBal and Roshni after running in the Race for Life. Picture: STEPHEN WALLER (Image: � Stephen Waller)

Ipswich Star: Pui and Carmen after running the Race for Life Picture: STEPHEN WALLERPui and Carmen after running the Race for Life Picture: STEPHEN WALLER (Image: � Stephen Waller)

Ipswich Star: Sophie Evers with mum Penny Picture: STEPHEN WALLERSophie Evers with mum Penny Picture: STEPHEN WALLER (Image: � Stephen Waller)

Ipswich Star: Penny Evers with daughter Sophie at the finish line in the Race for Life Picture: STEPHEN WALLERPenny Evers with daughter Sophie at the finish line in the Race for Life Picture: STEPHEN WALLER (Image: � Stephen Waller)

Ipswich Star: Team Sanchia at the Race for Life Picture: STEPHEN WALLERTeam Sanchia at the Race for Life Picture: STEPHEN WALLER (Image: � Stephen Waller)

Ipswich Star: Lucky and Roxanne after running the Race for Life Picture: STEPHEN WALLERLucky and Roxanne after running the Race for Life Picture: STEPHEN WALLER (Image: � Stephen Waller)

Ipswich Star: Air Force cadets hold up the estimated total raised over the Race for Life weekend Picture: STEPHEN WALLERAir Force cadets hold up the estimated total raised over the Race for Life weekend Picture: STEPHEN WALLER (Image: � Stephen Waller)

Ipswich Star: Leanne Webb, first home in the 5k Race Picture: STEPHEN WALLERLeanne Webb, first home in the 5k Race Picture: STEPHEN WALLER (Image: � Stephen Waller)

Ipswich Star: Women and children ahead of the Race for Life in Ipswich Picture: STEPHEN WALLERWomen and children ahead of the Race for Life in Ipswich Picture: STEPHEN WALLER (Image: � Stephen Waller)

Ipswich Star: One fundraiser with her trusty canine companion Picture: STEPHEN WALLEROne fundraiser with her trusty canine companion Picture: STEPHEN WALLER (Image: � Stephen Waller)

Ipswich Star: The Rosser Girls and Sarah and Friends after competing the Race for Life at Trinity Park Picture: STEPHEN WALLERThe Rosser Girls and Sarah and Friends after competing the Race for Life at Trinity Park Picture: STEPHEN WALLER (Image: � Stephen Waller)

Ipswich Star: Martlesham Madams after running in the Race for Life at Trinity Park Picture: STEPHEN WALLERMartlesham Madams after running in the Race for Life at Trinity Park Picture: STEPHEN WALLER (Image: � Stephen Waller)

Ipswich Star: One fundraiser gets attacked by bugs Picture: STEPHEN WALLEROne fundraiser gets attacked by bugs Picture: STEPHEN WALLER (Image: � Stephen Waller)

Ipswich Star: Becki Whitelock and Nick(y) Williams running for team Sanchia in the Race for Life at Trinity Park Picture: STEPHEN WALLERBecki Whitelock and Nick(y) Williams running for team Sanchia in the Race for Life at Trinity Park Picture: STEPHEN WALLER (Image: � Stephen Waller)

Ipswich Star: From the left, Angela Ironside, Nina Watts and Aimee Bullard Picture: STEPHEN WALLERFrom the left, Angela Ironside, Nina Watts and Aimee Bullard Picture: STEPHEN WALLER (Image: � Stephen Waller)

Ipswich Star: Women and children warming up ahead of the Race for Life Picture: STEPHEN WALLERWomen and children warming up ahead of the Race for Life Picture: STEPHEN WALLER (Image: � Stephen Waller)

Ipswich Star: The start of the Race for Life at Trinity Park Picture: STEPHEN WALLERThe start of the Race for Life at Trinity Park Picture: STEPHEN WALLER (Image: � Stephen Waller)