Hundreds of women united yesterday to take part in Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life in Stevenage.

The Comet: Participants warm up before the Stevenage Race for Life 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDSParticipants warm up before the Stevenage Race for Life 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDS (Image: ©2018 Kevin Richards - all rights reserved)

More than 1,450 women of all ages, abilities, shapes and sizes took their places at the start line of the 5k and 10k events at Fairlands Valley Park.

Both are open to children under the age of 16 too, with 11-year-old Daniel Nimmo the first the finish the 5k in 24 minutes and 17 seconds.

The Comet: Winners! Daniel Nimmo, 11, was the first across the line with Jane Chand not far behind at this year's Stevenage Race for Life 5k. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDSWinners! Daniel Nimmo, 11, was the first across the line with Jane Chand not far behind at this year's Stevenage Race for Life 5k. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDS (Image: ©2018 Kevin Richards - all rights reserved)

Courtney Culverhouse, Cancer Research UK’s Hertfordshire events manager, said: “Life-saving research is being funded right now thanks to people like the women of Stevenage who joined the fight at Race for Life.

“By taking part and raising money, our participants play a crucial role in helping to turn discoveries made in the lab into new, better treatments for patients in Hertfordshire and across the UK and we’d like to thank everyone who took part.

The Comet: The end of the warm up as Stephen Sapsed of sponsors Stevenage Lifestyles gym wishes everybody well in the Stevenage Race for Life 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDSThe end of the warm up as Stephen Sapsed of sponsors Stevenage Lifestyles gym wishes everybody well in the Stevenage Race for Life 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDS (Image: ©2018 Kevin Richards - all rights reserved)

“I’d also like to say thank you to all our suppliers and volunteers, including Hertfordshire 4x4 Response, Fairlands Valley Spartans, Stevenage Army Cadets (North and South) and all the individual volunteers. We simply could not have put the event on without them.

“The atmosphere across the weekend was hugely moving – full of emotion, courage, tears and laughter – as people came together to remember loved ones lost to cancer or celebrate the lives of those dear to them who have survived.

The Comet: Participant Charlotte in the Stevenage Race for Life 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDSParticipant Charlotte in the Stevenage Race for Life 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDS (Image: ©2018 Kevin Richards - all rights reserved)

“Race for Life offers a unique opportunity for like-minded ladies to unite against a disease that affects us all in some way.”

Now the event organisers are asking participants to make every step count by submitting their sponsorship money as soon as possible, so it can be used to fund life-saving research.

The Comet: Participants Melissa and Jasmine in the Stevenage Race for Life 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDSParticipants Melissa and Jasmine in the Stevenage Race for Life 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDS (Image: ©2018 Kevin Richards - all rights reserved)

Courtney said: “We’re hoping to raise £79,000 and the money raised – whether it’s £10 or £100 – will help Cancer Research UK scientists find new ways to prevent, diagnose and treat the disease, helping save more lives.”

One in two people in the UK will be diagnosed with cancer at some stage in their lives, but the good news is more people are surviving the disease now than ever before. Cancer survival in the UK has doubled since the early 1970s.

The Comet: Participants in the Stevenage Race for Life 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDSParticipants in the Stevenage Race for Life 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDS (Image: ©2018 Kevin Richards - all rights reserved)

Sponsorship money can be paid online, by phone, by cheque or in person at a Cancer Research UK shop. For information on returning sponsorship money, or to make a donation, visit raceforlife.org.

The Comet: Cancer Research, Ware and Herts area, having raised thousands in the Stevenage Race for Life 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDSCancer Research, Ware and Herts area, having raised thousands in the Stevenage Race for Life 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDS (Image: ©2018 Kevin Richards - all rights reserved)

The Comet: First time runner, Julia in the Stevenage Race for Life 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDSFirst time runner, Julia in the Stevenage Race for Life 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDS (Image: ©2018 Kevin Richards - all rights reserved)

The Comet: Participants in the Stevenage Race for Life 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDSParticipants in the Stevenage Race for Life 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDS (Image: ©2018 Kevin Richards - all rights reserved)

The Comet: Participants warm up before the Stevenage Race for Life 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDSParticipants warm up before the Stevenage Race for Life 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDS (Image: ©2018 Kevin Richards - all rights reserved)

The Comet: Participants warm up before the Stevenage Race for Life 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDSParticipants warm up before the Stevenage Race for Life 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDS (Image: ©2018 Kevin Richards - all rights reserved)

The Comet: Total being raised in the Stevenage Race for Life 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDSTotal being raised in the Stevenage Race for Life 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDS (Image: ©2018 Kevin Richards - all rights reserved)

The Comet: Participants warm up before the Stevenage Race for Life 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDSParticipants warm up before the Stevenage Race for Life 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDS (Image: ©2018 Kevin Richards - all rights reserved)

The Comet: Participants warm up before the Stevenage Race for Life 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDSParticipants warm up before the Stevenage Race for Life 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDS (Image: ©2018 Kevin Richards - all rights reserved)

The Comet: Participants warm up before the Stevenage Race for Life 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDSParticipants warm up before the Stevenage Race for Life 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDS (Image: ©2018 Kevin Richards - all rights reserved)

The Comet: Messages for loved ones in the Stevenage Race for Life 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDSMessages for loved ones in the Stevenage Race for Life 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDS (Image: ©2018 Kevin Richards - all rights reserved)

The Comet: Participants in the Stevenage Race for Life 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDSParticipants in the Stevenage Race for Life 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDS (Image: ©2018 Kevin Richards - all rights reserved)

The Comet: Participants warm up before the Stevenage Race for Life 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDSParticipants warm up before the Stevenage Race for Life 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDS (Image: ©2018 Kevin Richards - all rights reserved)

The Comet: Running for Donna, Merry-Go-Round, Baldock, take part in the Stevenage Race for Life 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDSRunning for Donna, Merry-Go-Round, Baldock, take part in the Stevenage Race for Life 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDS (Image: ©2018 Kevin Richards - all rights reserved)

The Comet: Participants warm up before the Stevenage Race for Life 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDSParticipants warm up before the Stevenage Race for Life 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDS (Image: ©2018 Kevin Richards - all rights reserved)

The Comet: Alison who is the Chair of Crew for the Cancer Research for Ware and Herts Area in the Stevenage Race for Life 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDSAlison who is the Chair of Crew for the Cancer Research for Ware and Herts Area in the Stevenage Race for Life 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDS (Image: ©2018 Kevin Richards - all rights reserved)

The Comet: Stevenage Army Cadets marshall the Start- Finish line in the Stevenage Race for Life 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDSStevenage Army Cadets marshall the Start- Finish line in the Stevenage Race for Life 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDS (Image: ©2018 Kevin Richards - all rights reserved)

The Comet: Claire, Skye and Willow take part in the Stevenage Race for Life 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDSClaire, Skye and Willow take part in the Stevenage Race for Life 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDS (Image: ©2018 Kevin Richards - all rights reserved)

The Comet: First back is Daniel in 24 minutes in the Stevenage Race for Life 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDSFirst back is Daniel in 24 minutes in the Stevenage Race for Life 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDS (Image: ©2018 Kevin Richards - all rights reserved)

The Comet: First female winner, Jane Chand, coming home in 25minutes 12 seconds in the Stevenage Race for Life 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDSFirst female winner, Jane Chand, coming home in 25minutes 12 seconds in the Stevenage Race for Life 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDS (Image: ©2018 Kevin Richards - all rights reserved)