A WAVE of pink is set to race through Winchester as a charity fun run returns.

Race for Life, organised by Cancer Research UK, will see 1,500 women take to the city's Garrison Ground and University Stadium on Sunday June 7.

The charity encourages women and girls of all shapes, sizes and abilities to run, walk, jog, or even dance the five kilometre course.

Last year 8,867 women in Winchester and Southampton raised £469,697 and organisers are hoping to smash that this time around.

Chris Woods, area events manager for Cancer Research UK, said the charity is aiming to raise £100,000 from the Winchester event.

He said: "Race for Life is non-competitive. It’s not about being fit or fast. Most women are able to walk five kilometres in an hour while chatting and having fun.

"With fire in their bellies and trainers at the ready, we know that Hampshire ladies are up for the challenge."

He added: "Personally I’m really looking forward to the event, the atmosphere on the day is absolutely amazing, and reading through everyone’s back signs with their reasons for taking part is so humbling.

"Race for Life is so important - every hour more than five people are diagnosed with cancer in the South East. But the good news is that research, supported by Race for Life events, is helping more people survive than ever before."

He added that cancer survival rates have doubled since the 1970s, with more than 95 per cent of men diagnosed with testicular cancer cured and more women surviving breast cancer and more youngsters surviving childhood cancers than ever before.

Following Sunday's race there will be a Pretty Muddy assault course on July 4 at Southampton Common, which will see women put through their paces - with added mud!

It is followed by five and 10 kilometre runs on July 5.

Pretty Muddy was held in Winchester in 2014 and saw around 1,500 women crawl and climb over muddy obstacles, including bouncy slides and mud baths - some even wore fancy dress.

Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life, in partnership with Tesco, raises millions of pounds every year to help beat cancer sooner.

The money raised goes towards advanced research by doctors, nurses and scientists.

Race for Life started as one event in 1994 in Battersea Park with 680 people, now it has raised over £691 million with 7.7 million participants.