BRADFORD’S annual Race for Life has proved successful yet again, with one particular community throwing itself into the event with relish.

The race’s area events manager, Simon Round, said he was blown away by the response from Sikhs in Bradford to the event at Lister Park.

The 2019 edition is the first in which sons and whole families can compete, along with mothers and daughters.

Mr Round enthused: “I visited the Guru Gobind Singh temple on Leeds Road in the build up to the event and it was so well received that we would have a mix of males, females and families this year.

“Loads of members from their Gulab Gang came along to race today, both men and women, which was just fantastic.”

He added: “Sikhs have really grasped this event over the last two or three years, and numbers have increased dramatically.

“They always bring along lots of food for our volunteers and today, a big group from the Guru Gobind Temple came to support their runners and brought a van load of water, refreshments and samosas for our volunteers.

“One year we even had four or five Sikh ladies arrange for some particular material to be brought over from India for their racing saris.

“They’re just a real community.”

Mr Round was extremely happy with how Saturday morning’s race went.

He enthused: “We had roughly about 800 people take part and we’re on target to raise £38,500 from the event.

“It was a really good turnout, the weather held and there were no medical incidents either.

“We’d very much love it to go as well next year.”

Nicki Embleton, a Cancer Research UK spokesperson, was also at the event on Saturday and she said the Sikhs from the temple created a wonderful atmosphere.

She also wanted to mention the tribute to a special young lady that we reported on last week.

Megan Carr succumbed to cancer at the age of just 18 in 2017 and never got the chance to compete in the event.

She did however have the honour of setting the runners off at Race for Life 2016, when she was invited as a VIP guest.

Three years later, she was back in spirit.

Ms Embleton said: “Megan’s mum Karen rang the bell to start the race and we got some great pictures of that.

“Each member of Megan’s family that competed all wore something of hers during the race, which was lovely.”

She provided us with some video footage of the event, which can be found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5WqGs9sA30M&feature=youtu.be