Hundreds of runners make it a day to remember for life

Hundreds of them were on view at the town's South Park, each giving the name of a loved one whose life had been blighted by cancer.

Nearly 2,500 women ran the 5km race - all with their own personal reasons for raising money for Cancer Research UK.

For the 28 teachers and sixth-form students from Polam Hall School in Darlington, it was a chance to pay tribute to former headteacher Helen Hamilton, who died last year from cancer, aged 57.

Teacher Sara-Jane Hardy, 35, said they hoped to have raised more than £400.

"It's a chance for us to run in Helen's memory and we have thoroughly enjoyed it," she said.

Joyce Blakeley, from Darlington, was cheering on her sister Christine Bowles, 46, who has breast cancer.

Mrs Bowles was running with a team of women workers from race sponsor, Tesco supermarket in Catterick.

Mrs Blakeley said: "My husband Geoff died two years ago of cancer and my sister is fighting it at the moment so today means a lot to our family."

Jean White, from Newton Aycliffe, ran in memory of her father, Frank Welsh.

She said: "The conditions were just right today - any hotter and it would have been difficult."

For Abbie Hull, 24, from Middleton St George, near Darlington, it was her second Race for Life in a few weeks.

She took part in the event in Sheffield last month.

She said: "I'm trying to get fit and this has been a great incentive."

The event, compered by DJs Shaun Harrington and Chris Hakin from Alpha Radio 103.2 and backed by The Northern Echo, is expected to raise about £80,000 for Cancer Research UK.

Organiser Jill Campbell said it had gone without a hitch, thanks to the help of stewards from Darlington Borough Council, the Quakers running club and Darlington Harriers.

"All we can do now is urge participants to send in their sponsorship money," she said.

Sponsorship forms and cheques, made payable to Cancer Research UK, should be sent to Race for Life, PO Box 50, Crawley RH10 9WA.