IT'S a disease that has touched almost everyone who ran. Close to 2,000 women took part in Winchester's largest ever Race for Life at the weekend, all with the common goal of raising as much money as possible for Cancer Research UK.

Thousands more enjoyed the summer sunshine as the 1,932 women, aged from 13 through to 70, ran, jogged and walked the 5km circuit at Winchester's River Park Leisure Centre.

The significance of the event to many was literally written all over them, with the majority of runners wearing placards on their backs bearing the name of a loved one lost to the disease.

Some said "For Mum" or "For Dad", while others simply said "For Everyone".

One women, who declined to be named, said she'd been spurred on to take part after her four-year-old son developed leukaemia.

She added that she realised how important the work of charities like Cancer Research UK was in keeping her son alive and so wanted to give something back to them for all they had done for her and her boy.

The UK's biggest women-only event has proved a massive success since it was launched in Battersea, London, in 1994, when some 850 women took part and £35,000 was raised.

Eleven years on and this year the combined UK events are hoping to raise upwards of £70m from the 450,000 women taking part.

Among those running on Sunday were mother and daughter Francesca Gay, 45, and Fenella Langridge, 13, from Winchester, who finished second and third respectively.

They said: "We just wanted to raise some money for Cancer Research UK, because so many lives have been affected by this disease and the more that can be done to help find a cure the better."

The winner, Rowena Naile, 41, from Andover, added: "I've done quite few of these races before, but this is definitely one of the best yet.

"I took part because my mother-in-law died a few years ago from cancer and I wanted to do something in her memory that would help others in the future."

Organisers hope the event will have raised at least £100,000 for Cancer Research UK, while sales of the charity's support bracelets could push that figure even higher.

Organiser Lorna Glanfield, said: "I'm really proud of everyone who has taken part and helped make this Winchester's most successful Race for Life ever. I would also like to say a big thanks to all the volunteers who have given their time and who have done an amazing job and without whose help none of this would have happened."

The next local races are being held at Southampton on July 17, Basingstoke on June 22, Isle of Wight on July 3 and Bournemouth on June 19. Visit www.raceforlife.org

For a full list of runners and more pictures see pages 23, 24, 25, and 26 of the Daily Echo on Tuesday, 17 May 2005.