A TRAIL of pink ringed a river bank yesterday as women of all ages joined the Race for Life.

The Race for Life in Durham City was the sixth of seven events in this summer’s North-East Race for Life series, staged by Cancer Research UK.

It attracted more than 3,000 women, who escaped the worst of the recent heatwave to complete 3.3 miles.

Beginning and ending at Durham University’s Graham Sports Centre, in Maiden Castle, the race went through Shincliffe village and Old Durham Gardens, before crossing a footbridge over the River Wear to finish on the university playing fields.

Elizabeth Oates, from Crook, County Durham, was first past the post, in 22 minutes and six seconds, but it was the personal achievement of completing the course which spurred on the rest of the field.

Claire Atkinson, Cancer Research’s regional Race for Life spokeswoman, said: “The atmosphere was just brilliant.

“It is a little early to start giving definite figures, but we have got a target of about £130,000, which we hope to reach.

“So many of the runners came along in various colourful costumes and we had about 100 staff from the Tesco store, in Durham, all in fancy dress.

“When you looked out as they made their way round the course, there was just a line of pink. It was fantastic.”

The Durham Race for Life event followed similar runs in Sunderland, Gateshead, Hartlepool, Darlington and Middlesbrough in recent weeks, with only Newcastle remaining next Sunday.

A £1.2m target has been set for the North-East races, but there is a prospect of up to £5m of the overall proceeds nationwide being spent in the region, to aid relief and research into cancer.

The final race takes place in Newcastle’s Exhibition Park, and features two runs – one at 10.30am and the second at 2pm. Although all places in the race have been filled, Cancer Research UK is seeking volunteers to help marshal the course and hand out the goody bags.

Volunteer are asked to meet at the park at 9am for the morning run, or from noon for the afternoon run.