FINISHING touches are being made to costumes, sponsorship forms are filling up and shops are running mysteriously low on pink feather boas.

It must be time for Race for Life 2010.

Thousand of women and girls of all ages are preparing for this weekend’s charity event on Southampton Common.

Whether they intend to walk, jog or run the 5km course on Sunday they have all been busy gathering as much sponsorship money as they can.

Organisers Cancer Research UK hope their collective efforts will help raise more than £500,000 in the fight against cancer.

In its 16-year history, Race for Life has become the biggest female-only charity event in the UK.

Daily Echo: For a video of the top stories in today's Daily Echo, click the front page.

The Southampton event regularly attracts 10,000 women, many of them running in memory of loved ones or in celebration of those who have survived cancer.

In 2009, between the Southampton and Winchester events, 11,800 women raised an incredible £675,000.

And this year’s race is shaping up to be better than ever.

Organiser Christina Tomlinson said: “This year’s Race for Life is going to be full of amazing moments for everyone, from lining up at the start with thousands of other women to reading the inspirational ‘back-signs’ worn by participants and the fantastic sense of achievement crossing the finish line.

“Women of all ages, abilities, shapes and sizes take part.

They motivate and inspire each other. Many simply walk round, chatting and having fun but they all share the wonderful atmosphere at the event.”

Cancer Research UK spent more than £4m in Southampton last year on some of the UK’s leading scientific and clinical research.

Race for Life is on Southampton Common from 11am on Sunday.

See raceforlife.org.uk.