Shropshire Star

Pictures: Hundreds flock to Telford Race For Life

More than 800 women and children got in the pink for the Telford Race for Life fundraising event. The event is expected to have raised around £50,000 in sponsorship for the charity Cancer Research UK.

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Race for Life in Telford

Hundreds of participants and their supporters descended on Telford Town Park on Sunday for the fun annual race that sees experienced athletes take on 5k and 10k routes while dressed in pink clothes and amusing costumes.

It follows swiftly on the heel of the charity's The Pretty Muddy event held at Weston Park earlier this month.

Among those to have a go a both races was friends and work colleagues Mim Broadhurst, 58, and Katie Tomlinson, 36, of Sir Alexander Fleming Primary School, in Southgate, Sutton Hill, Telford. They completed the course along with Esme Tomlinson, aged five.

" We did it in less than an hour and that's with us carrying injuries.We did the mud run at Weston two weeks ago. We work at the same school and Esme is also a pupil there. We are getting a lot of support and sponsorship from our colleagues and friends at the school.

"My mother died from cancer, but nowadays it's all about supporting everyone because everybody will know someone who has had cancer. Everybody has been affected by it. Some ppeople have fought and lost the battle, others have overcome it and others still are suffering from it," Ms Broadhurst said.

"It's been a lovely day. Lots of people turned up which was great. there was a lot of singing and music. It's been really good," assistant head Ms Tomlinson added.

The event was officially opened by Telford & Wrekin deputy mayor Councillor Stephen Reynolds who welcome the runners and walkers and handed out the medals at the end.

Telford Race For Life event manager Lorna Hartley said: "It has been fabulous. The weather has been amazing. The competitors have been brilliant. Everyone had happy smiling faces and it couldn't have been better.

"The sponsorship for this event is about £50,000. We had 171 people take part in the 10k event and 690 in the 5k.

"Our partners have been amazing too and we would like say a big thank you to our 20 volunteers for coming to give us a hand. We can't do it without them. People can sign up via our website to volunteers at all of our Race For Life events in the same way has registering for the races or they can offer their services on the day."