MORE than 1,000 big-hearted women are expected to flock to Winchester for the city's second Race for Life tomorrow.

Last year's race, the first ever held in Winchester, attracted 1,200 women and raised nearly £62,000 for Cancer Research UK.

The sun shone down on crowds who had come to cheer on the women running the 5km course at River Park Leisure Centre.

This year, organisers are hoping for another huge turnout.

A spokesman for the race said: "We are delighted to be coming back to Winchester for the second year. Winchester's first Race for Life was an overwhelming success, with 1,200 women taking part and raising almost £10,000 over target. A huge well done to everyone who took part."

The race will once again be hosted at River Park Leisure Centre in Gordon Road and will start at 11am.

Among those taking part are staff and students from Winchester's Peter Symonds College, pictured.

Nineteen members of staff are in training and the team is hoping to beat last year's sponsorship total of £1,540.

Boarding houseparent Chrissie Rycroft has also enlisted students to participate. She said: "We had such a great time in 2004 that some of last year's students are returning to join up with this year's students and run again."

The Race for Life is the biggest UK women-only fundraising event. 150 races are held all over the country and women of all ages and fitness levels run, jog or walk the 5km course to raise money for Cancer Research UK.

Tesco will sponsor the Race for Life this year for the fourth consecutive year.

Southampton's Race for Life will be held at Southampton Common on July 17. The 2004 Southampton Race for Life was the biggest single race across the UK, with more than 10,000 women taking part.

To enter the Southampton race visit www.raceforlife.org

For full coverage of the event including photographs and a full list of all the participants see Tuesday's Daily Echo.