MORE than 1,700 women ran, walked and danced their way to the finish line while taking part in this year’s Race for Life in Blackburn.

Women from across East Lancashire descended on Witton Park to complete the 5k course and raise money for Cancer Research UK. The event saw more than £75,000 raised for the charity by women taking part in memory of family and friends.

Sarah Yarwood, 26, from Blackburn, took to the course for the first time two years ago after being diagnosed with breast cancer.

She said: “I’m not someone who will let something like this beat me.

“This is such an important event and I’m going to give it my all.

“I wanted to raise as much money as possible because it is so important to carry on fighting in any way we can against all forms of cancer.”

Teenager Emily Cottam took part in the race for the first time after her granddad, Dave, 66, died last week from prostate and lung cancer.

Emily, 16, from Clitheroe, said: “It’s really important to me to complete this race for my granddad.

“I’m running with my two friends, Amy Bailey and Ellen Clarkson, who are also running for a grandparent.

“It’s fantastic that these sorts of events exist.” Mother-of-two Anne Ellwood, 55, from Accrington, said: “I’m running on behalf of my mother, Mavis, who died in 2002 from breast cancer.

“When I carried the Olympic Torch through the centre of Accrington last year, I carried a picture of my parents with me and it was a very special occasion.

“I’m doing the same today and have even brought the torch along with me. Race For Life is a great event and it’s amazing that they hold them all over the country. It’s such an important and worthwhile event to be a part of and I’m so glad that I’m doing it.”

Mariam Chaudhri, 31, was aiming to raise as much money as she could after being told that she had beaten breast cancer in January.

The mother-of-two from Blackburn said: “It’s a huge day for me considering I was told I had cancer two years ago.

“The news at the start of this year was the best ever and I’m so glad to be taking part today as a survivor of cancer.”

Family team Carol Goodard, 51, Emma Taylor, 27, and Joanne Taylor, 31, dedicated the race to their family who had suffered from cancer in recent years.

Emma said: “It’s an emotional day but also such a rewarding one and we would not miss it for the world.”

Liz Booth, area event manager for Cancer Research UK, said: “It was a wonderful event and I would like to thank everyone who took part and came to cheer on their friends and family.

“The money that has been raised will make such a big difference and having so many people turn up is just fantastic.”