Did you take part in Bury St Edmunds Race for Life? See our photos and report

Pink ladies: The annual Race for Life in Nowton Park, Bury St Edmunds on Sunday. Picture: ANDY ABBOTT. (Image: Archant)

More than 1,000 women and girls donned pink and turned out with their personal stories to support Cancer Research UK in its fight against the disease on Sunday, June 11.

The 1,272 entrants prepared with a warm-up and entertainment before tackling the 5km or 10km routes around Nowton Park.

While less people signed up this year (there were 1,600 in 2016), area event manager Rachel Parratt said the “Bury St Edmunds spirit” was bigger than last time. She hopes the charity can reach its target from the event of £82,000.

“They came out in force,” she said. “I hope people are generous and we will reach it, but only time will tell.”

Sophie's Little Runners team after completing Race for Life in Bury St Edmunds this summer (2017). Pictured are Sophie Claydon (centre), with cousin Melissa Claydon, her children Daisy, Barney and Lucie-Rose, cousin Anita and her daughter Autumn. Picture: CONTRIBUTED (Image: Contributed)

One team to take part was a group of about 30 people who work at Thetford Tesco.

Sarah Douthwaite, the community champion at the store, said staff had joined together to support their colleague Lucy Crosbie, whose baby daughter Lavinia was diagnosed with a rare eye cancer when she was eight months old.

“I have organised it [Race for Life team] for the last ten years and when Lucy’s little girl had cancer we decided to do it for that as well,” she said. “It’s been an amazing atmosphere.”

Another team with their own story was ‘Sophie’s Little Runners’, a group of two sisters and four of their children who were doing it for relative Sophie Claydon.

Pink ladies: The annual Race for Life in Nowton Park, Bury St Edmunds on Sunday. Picture: ANDY ABBOTT. (Image: Archant)

Miss Claydon, 25, a former Thurston Community College student, was diagnosed with kidney cancer in December and has been through numerous operations and treatments.

Melissa Claydon - Sophie’s cousin - took part with her children Daisy, Barney and Lucie-Rose, her sister Anita and her daughter Autumn.

She said her children had been “devastated” to find out about Sophie’s diagnosis.

Speaking of the event, she said: “The atmosphere was electric, absolutely electric. There were so many people there with wonderful stories.” Their team has raised about £600 so far.

Pink ladies: The annual Race for Life in Nowton Park, Bury St Edmunds on Sunday. Picture: ANDY ABBOTT. (Image: Archant)

Miss Parratt added: “It’s all about unity so we can raise the money and beat cancer.”

There was a Zumba warm-up and the local rock choir provided entertainment.

Pink ladies: The annual Race for Life in Nowton Park, Bury St Edmunds on Sunday. Picture: ANDY ABBOTT. (Image: Archant)

Pink ladies: The annual Race for Life in Nowton Park, Bury St Edmunds on Sunday. Picture: ANDY ABBOTT. (Image: Archant)

Pink ladies: The annual Race for Life in Nowton Park, Bury St Edmunds on Sunday. Picture: ANDY ABBOTT. (Image: Archant)

Pink ladies: The annual Race for Life in Nowton Park, Bury St Edmunds on Sunday. Picture: ANDY ABBOTT. (Image: Archant)

Pink ladies: The annual Race for Life in Nowton Park, Bury St Edmunds on Sunday. PICTURE ANDY ABBOTT (Image: Archant)

Pink ladies: The annual Race for Life in Nowton Park, Bury St Edmunds on Sunday. PICTURE ANDY ABBOTT (Image: Archant)

Pink ladies: The annual Race for Life in Nowton Park, Bury St Edmunds on Sunday. PICTURE ANDY ABBOTT (Image: Archant)

Pink ladies: The annual Race for Life in Nowton Park, Bury St Edmunds on Sunday. PICTURE ANDY ABBOTT (Image: Archant)

Pink ladies: The annual Race for Life in Nowton Park, Bury St Edmunds on Sunday. Picture: ANDY ABBOTT. (Image: Archant)

Pink ladies: The annual Race for Life in Nowton Park, Bury St Edmunds on Sunday. Picture: ANDY ABBOTT. (Image: Archant)

Pink ladies: The annual Race for Life in Nowton Park, Bury St Edmunds on Sunday. Picture: ANDY ABBOTT. (Image: Archant)

Pink ladies: The annual Race for Life in Nowton Park, Bury St Edmunds on Sunday. Picture: ANDY ABBOTT. (Image: Archant)

Pink ladies: The annual Race for Life in Nowton Park, Bury St Edmunds on Sunday. Picture: ANDY ABBOTT. (Image: Archant)

Pink ladies: The annual Race for Life in Nowton Park, Bury St Edmunds on Sunday. The Rock Choir entertain runners. Picture: ANDY ABBOTT. (Image: Archant)

Pink ladies: The annual Race for Life in Nowton Park, Bury St Edmunds on Sunday. Picture: ANDY ABBOTT. (Image: Archant)

Pink ladies: The annual Race for Life in Nowton Park, Bury St Edmunds on Sunday. Picture: ANDY ABBOTT. (Image: Archant)

Pink ladies: The annual Race for Life in Nowton Park, Bury St Edmunds on Sunday. Picture: ANDY ABBOTT. (Image: Archant)

Pink ladies: The annual Race for Life in Nowton Park, Bury St Edmunds on Sunday. Picture: ANDY ABBOTT. (Image: Archant)

Pink ladies: The annual Race for Life in Nowton Park, Bury St Edmunds on Sunday. Picture: ANDY ABBOTT. (Image: Archant)

Pink ladies: The annual Race for Life in Nowton Park, Bury St Edmunds on Sunday. Picture: ANDY ABBOTT. (Image: Archant)

Pink ladies: The annual Race for Life in Nowton Park, Bury St Edmunds on Sunday. Picture: ANDY ABBOTT. (Image: Archant)

Pink ladies: The annual Race for Life in Nowton Park, Bury St Edmunds on Sunday. Picture: ANDY ABBOTT. (Image: Archant)

Pink ladies: The annual Race for Life in Nowton Park, Bury St Edmunds on Sunday. Picture: ANDY ABBOTT. (Image: Archant)

Pink ladies: The annual Race for Life in Nowton Park, Bury St Edmunds on Sunday. Picture: ANDY ABBOTT. (Image: Archant)

Pink ladies: The annual Race for Life in Nowton Park, Bury St Edmunds on Sunday. Picture: ANDY ABBOTT. (Image: Archant)

Pink ladies: The annual Race for Life in Nowton Park, Bury St Edmunds on Sunday. Rebecca Morley, 13, wins the 5k race and is congratulated by her family. Picture: ANDY ABBOTT. (Image: Archant)