THOUSANDS of women braved the drizzle to join the fight against cancer in Tatton Park last weekend.

Almost 5,000 ran, jogged or walked Cancer Research's Race for Life on Sunday and Pretty Muddy obstacle course on Saturday.

Organisers hope the event will raise £250,000 for the charity, which spend more than £26 million on research in Manchester last year.

Knutsford-based BBC radio and television presenter Rachael Bland, 39, who is currently undergoing breast cancer treatment, launched the event and took part in the 5k race.

Laura Taylor, Race for Life north west event manager, said: “The atmosphere has been electric - full of emotion, courage, tears and laughter - as thousands of like-minded ladies came together to join the fight against cancer.

“I’d like to say a huge ‘thank you’ to all the women who participated in Race for Life Tatton Park and to all their friends, family and colleagues for supporting them.

“Our participants play a crucial role in helping to turn discoveries made in the lab into better treatments for patients in the North West and across the UK and we rely on their incredible commitment to the cause.”