MORE than 100 women took a Walk on the Wild Side, to raise thousands of pounds for breast cancer research.The fourth annual walk, by Suffolk Breakthrough Breast Cancer, has grown bigger each year, leading Ipswich Town football club to make it one of its ten chosen charities this year.

MORE than 100 women took a Walk on the Wild Side, to raise thousands of pounds for breast cancer research.

The fourth annual walk, by Suffolk Breakthrough Breast Cancer, has grown bigger each year, leading Ipswich Town football club to make it one of its ten chosen charities this year.

The Suffolk group was set up just three years ago and in that time has raised more than £100,000 for the charity.

Walkers from as far afield as Bury St Edmunds tackled a choice of coastal walks ranging from a 13-mile hike to a less taxing 5.5-mile stroll, starting and finishing at Thorpeness Country Club.

Gina Dawson, one of the organisers, said Thursday's event raised a record £3,000, which will go to Breakthrough's pioneering Research Centre in London.

She added: "It was a magical day – just brilliant. We had the best time while raising money for a very worthwhile cause.

"Our goal is to make this a massive event every year in Suffolk, and we would welcome anyone getting in touch with us who wants to get involved next year."

The UK has some of the highest breast cancer rates in Europe, with around 40,000 women and 300 men diagnosed and nearly 14,000 dying from the disease each year.

Breakthrough researchers are looking at developing new ways of halting the spread of the disease and reducing the number of women and men who die of it each year.