THEY turned out in their thousands to remember those they had loved and lost.

Many of the women taking part in yesterday's Race for Life on Southampton Common had seen a friend or relative succumb to cancer.

Most had lost a parent or grandparent, while others had suffered the agony of watching a child slip away.

What brought them together was a determination to help scientists find a cure for a disease that will strike one in every two people at some stage in their life.

The run, one of several Race for Life events held across the UK each year, is expected to raise about £285,000.

Each runner had a number pinned to the back of their pink running vest. Most had also attached a handwritten note giving the names of loved ones who had either beaten cancer or had died from the disease.

More than one said: "My special dad."

Georgina Horne, area events manager for Cancer Research UK, told the runners: "I must thank you all for turning out today - seeing this brilliant sea of pink is so wonderful.

"Believe it or not Race for Life is 25 years old and in that time has raised more than £800 million, which is just amazing.

"Our scientists have made amazing progress, but there is still progress to be made.

"Every four minutes in the UK someone will lose their battle with cancer. We want to help change that and bring forward the day when all cancers will be cured."

The event began after a ten-second countdown, with runners and joggers starting ahead of those who were content to walk the course.

They included children in buggies and adults in wheelchairs, all united in their determination to help scientists find a cure for a disease that has touched almost every family in the country.

On Saturday more than 700 children set off on the city's first ever Race for Life Pretty Muddy Kids event.

The youngsters tackled a muddy obstacle course in a bid to raise thousands of pounds for Cancer Research UK. It was followed by the Pretty Muddy run, which saw hundreds of women tackle the course.

A total of more than 5,000 people are thought to have taken part in the three events.