IT MIGHT have left runners sodden through to the skin but heavy rain failed to cast a shadow over Race for Life in Ipswich.

Danielle Nuttall

IT MIGHT have left them sodden through to the skin but heavy rain failed to cast a shadow over their fun.

More than 2,000 women descended on Trinity Park in Ipswich last night for Cancer Research UK's Race for Life 2008.

As conditions go they were not perfect, but the relentless rain and thick mud did not deter them from completing the 5K distance in aid of the charity's life-saving work.

Many of those taking part were doing so in memory of loved-ones they had lost to the disease.

Jane Vincent, who owns WS Training in Ipswich and Bury St Edmunds, ran the race in memory of her nine-year-old son James Edwards who died from bone cancer.

Ms Vincent, who lives near Bury, brought 10 of her colleagues along to take part.

“This is very important to me. It's brilliant that so many people in the company who have lost loved ones too have got together like this,” she said.

“The rain is not a problem. To think of what the people we love have gone through in the fight for their lives, the ones who have survived and the ones we have lost, this is nothing to what they have gone through.”

Sisters Beckie and Katie Mack, from Ipswich, were running in memory of their grandma and a friend.

“We always do it as it's really important to support their work,” said Beckie.

“It's very emotional to do something like this together.”

The race kicked off at 7.30pm after the women were put through their paces in a lively warm-up.

Pink definitely appeared to be the theme, with some runners sporting pink rabbit ears and others hot pink tutus.

Paula Pennick, who was among a group of 20 colleagues from Suffolk Coastal District Council, said: “Everyone knows someone who has lost someone to cancer. It's nice to do this for Cancer Research and as a group as well. Cancer touches everyone's lives in some way.

“We just try and persuade the office and harass people to agree to walk, run or jog!

“The rain didn't put us off. We all have nice macs on!”

Organisers of last night's event are asking those who took part to help them smash the fundraising target of £138,000.

Ipswich's Race for Life event manager, Gemma Turpin, said: “The women of Ipswich deserve a really big thank you for creating such a great atmosphere and helping make the event so special. I hope everyone who took part in Race for Life at Trinity Park really enjoyed themselves - everyone was in a party mood on the day and it looked like everyone had a fantastic time.

“By taking part in Race for Life the women of Ipswich pledged their support to help us beat cancer - a disease that will affect one in three people in the UK at some stage in their lives. But this will only be possible if we raise enough money to help fund more of our life-saving research.

“The event itself may be over, but now it is vital that everyone makes one final effort by returning their sponsorship money as soon as possible to help us cross the fundraising finish line.”

For information on how to return sponsorship money, or to make a donation, visit www.raceforlife.org . UK tax payers should not forget to gift aid their donation, which means Cancer Research UK can claim back from the Government an extra 28% on top.