HUNDREDS of people from across Winchester united against cancer on Sunday by taking part in the Race for Life.  

More than 500 residents laced up their running shoes and completed the 3k and 5k events in glorious sunshine at North Walls Recreation Ground, raising £35,000 for life-saving research.

Donations collected through Race for Life enable Cancer Research UK scientists to find new ways to prevent, diagnose and treat cancer - helping to save more lives. 

Andrew Bradley, 78, and Peter Sutton, 79, from Winchester have both successfully been treated for prostate cancer and took part in their first Race for Life.

Andrew said: “We’ve raised £2,800 because we know how important it is. We’ve both benefitted from research in the past and want people to benefit in the future.”

Hannah Proud, 28, from Southampton was joined by dad Timothy, sister Becky and Stephen Collier to race in memory of her mum, Jo.

Hannah said: “My mum passed away from myeloma but research meant she had access to lots of new trials, medicines, treatments in the ten years she had cancer. We know what a difference the funding can make.”

Tina Moon led a team from Longparish Primary School raising money for Cancer Research UK. Tina said: “I was diagnosed with breast cancer in November, had a mastectomy and thankfully don’t need anymore treatment. The team at Winchester have been great and I can’t praise them highly enough.”

Liz Challand from Chandlers Ford took part in her 20th Race for Life in the year that Cancer Research UK celebrates its 20th anniversary. Liz said: “I started doing the event after losing a colleague who was very young to breast cancer, I lost my grandma to stomach cancer and my father was treated for testicular cancer. I still love doing it now and this year we have 19 people in our team raising money for ‘Team 2022’!"

Event organiser, April Davies said: “We are always thrilled to return to Winchester and are joined by lots of new supporters and lots of familiar faces too.

“Our supporters never fail to make us smile in their pink t-shirts and other wonderful costumes and help to create a brilliant atmosphere that Race for Life is known for.

“We are thankful to everyone taking part so that Cancer Research UK can continue to make discoveries, drive progress and bring hope to everyone affected by cancer.”

In the Winchester area, 3,600 people are diagnosed with cancer each year and one in two people in the UK born after 1960 will get cancer in their lifetime.    

Now organisers of the 3k, 5k, 10k and Pretty Muddy events are sending a heartfelt message of thanks to everyone who put their best feet forward as well as their supporters. And they’re appealing for people to make every step count by paying in sponsorship money as soon as possible.  

Elisa Mitchell, Cancer Research UK’s spokesperson in Hampshire, said: “We are incredibly grateful to everyone who took part in Race for Life Winchester. 

“Life-saving research is being funded right now thanks to our supporters who fundraise. The atmosphere at Race for Life Winchester was hugely moving - full of emotion, courage, tears and laughter as people celebrated the lives of those dear to them who have survived cancer and remembered loved ones lost to the disease. 

“Now we’re asking everyone who took part to return the money they’re raised as soon as possible. Funds raised - whether it’s £10 or £100 will help scientists find new ways to prevent, diagnose and treat cancer, helping save more lives.” 

Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life, in partnership with Tesco, raises funds for world-class research to help beat 200 types of cancer, including; bowel, breast, prostate, lung, testicular, brain, children’s cancers and leukaemia.     

Oonagh Turnbull, head of health campaigns at Tesco, said: “This is our 21st year in partnership with Cancer Research UK and Race for Life and we hope this year can be the biggest yet.”