MORE than 12,000 ladies descended on Heaton Park over the weekend to raise an estimated £670,000 for Cancer Research UK.

The charity’s new Race for Life Pretty Muddy event – now in its second year in Prestwich – attracted more than 7,000 ladies on Saturday who negotiated their way round a series of obstacles from a mud pit and mud chute to A-frames and muddy hurdles – during a 5k course.

Sunday saw women and children take on the traditional Race for Life 5k and 10k events with around 3,000 running 5k in the morning and a further 2,000 running 5k or 10k in the afternoon.

The event raises funds which allow Cancer Research UK’s doctors, nurses and scientists to advance research which is helping to save the lives of men, women and children across the North West and the UK.

Senior research nurse Clare Dickinson, who works with the Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute, went on stage to thank the crowd for their fundraising.

She said around £20million was spent on cancer research taking place in Manchester last year so everyone taking part in Race for Life was making a real difference.

Mum-of-two Laura Hilley, 36, a lecturer, of Heywood Road, Prestwich, said: "I was taking part in memory of my Aunty Val who sadly died from cancer in 2012.

"It's my second year taking part. It was very muddy this year and great fun for a great cause! My favourite obstacle was the space hoppers. My team has raised over £500 for Cancer Research UK."

The participants and spectators also heard talks from two ladies about their personal experience of cancer.

Melissa Sutton, aged 17, from Rochdale, who works at the Eagle and Child Pub in Ramsbottom and has beaten Ewing Sarcoma, spoke to morning runners, while afternoon runners heard from teacher Cynthia Murphy, 32, from Prestwich.

The Bury Grammar Boys Junior School teacher spoke to the crowd about her current treatment for breast cancer. Cynthia also ran the 5k in the morning raising more than £2,000 for Cancer Research UK.

Alison Barbuti, Cancer Research UK’s North West spokesperson, said: “It was a fantastic weekend. The park became a sea of pink as ladies weaved their way around the course.

“The Pretty Muddy event on Saturday was very muddy – helped by the recent wet weather – and ladies had great fun negotiating tunnels, mud pits and even a short lap on a space hopper – a new obstacle we’ve added this year.

“The sun came out for the Sunday 5k and 10k. It was a great atmosphere. We had lots of spectators cheering on their friends and family.

“Women wore signs on their back saying who they were running in tribute to or in memory of and we had a special share your story wall where everyone could leave these messages at the end of their race to help remember why we do Race for Life – to raise funds for more treatments for cancer.”

The next Race for Life event will take place at Heaton Park on Sunday, July 11, 2017. Participants can sign up now for £10 at: tinyurl.com/hpuehue