Dancers took to the streets of Ipswich on Friday as a rallying cry inspiring women to enter a charity fun-run and “show cancer who’s boss”.

Volunteers in bright pink T-shirts took part in a defiant dance known as the Cancer Slam to motivate people to join Cancer Research UK’s women-only Race for Life fundraiser this summer.

Organisers recruited members of a local Zumba club to perform the dance outside Debenhams in Westgate Street in a bid to “stop Suffolk shoppers in their tracks” and sign-up on the spot.

Gemma Turpin, Race for Life Suffolk events manager, said: “We’d like to thank Gabby, her Zumba ladies and the Suffolk ladies for taking part in Cancer Slam and showing us how it’s done.

“The Cancer Slam is a fun, defiant and energetic dance which epitomises the power and emotion of Race of Life and we urge women from across the region to get involved and unite in the fight against cancer.”

Last year, 4,787 women took part in Race for Life in Suffolk, raising £288,295 for charity.

Organisers of this year’s race are hoping for 5,600 woemn and girls to take part in either the 5k or 10k event in Chantry Park on Sunday, June 14, to raise £340,264 in aid of research.

“Race for Life is noncompetitive,” Ms Turpin added.

“It doesn’t matter how fit of fast you are. Taking part is about joining together agianst a disease that affects all of us.

“You can walk, run, dance, so we urge local ladies to take the first step by signing up today.”

To enter the race visit www.raceforlife.org or call 0845 6006050