The grounds of Burghley House, near Stamford, were transformed into a sea of colour yesterday (May 18), with women of all ages dressed to the nines to take part in the 5km race.

There were 4,000 runners taking part, all with their own personal stories of loss or survival and they in turn were watched by family and friends who had turned up in support.

Many runners wore the Race for Life T-shirt decorated with photographs of loved ones, while some merely had Mum or Dad written in pen on their clothes.

Diane Rayson (49), from Market Deeping, was running the race for the second year in a row.

She said: "I'm one of a group of 14 who are all taking part for different personal reasons.

"I'm racing for my husband Ken, who sadly passed away at 50 last year."

One runner told The ET how the cancer charity fund-raiser Jane Tomlinson, who died last year, had inspired her to take part.

Ann Hunter (59) from Stamford, was taking part in the Race for Life for the fifth time, and had pictures of Jane across her back.

Mrs Hunter said: "Jane Tomlinson was so inspirational when I was ill, through the things she did and what she must of put herself through.

"I rang the charity and asked if I could race for her and it was agreed."

Ali Ward had travelled from Sheffield to run at Burghley House and join her best friend who was running.

She said: "I have lost my mum, dad and sister Gill to cancer.

"I'm doing it to raise money for those people who still have cancer, and to remember those who we have lost."

The runners were put through their paces in a warm-up, before heading to the start line where they took part in a one-minute round of applause as a tribute to those they were running in memory of.

Organisers are hoping to smash last year's fund-raising total of £242,000 with this year's effort.

Meanwhile, hundreds more women took part in a run around Bourne Woods to raise money for charity.

The Woman Alive run, which also raises cash for Cancer Research UK, was set up several years ago by a group of women who were not able to secure places in the Race for Life event.

In recent years, it has raised £5,000 for the charity.