Thousands of women descended on Bradford’s Lister Park on Sunday to raise funds for Cancer Research.

The charity’s annual Race for Life event saw an estimated 5,000 women, many dressed in bright pink, walk, jog or run a 5km course cheered on by their husbands, partners and children.

Many of those taking part wore the names of loved ones affected by cancer on pink cards attached to their T-shirts. Race for Life area event manager Trudy Stammer said the race was expected to raise almost £240,000 to fund the charity’s research groups and clinical trials in Yorkshire.

She said: “It’s a fantastic response. They have made such an effort with their outfits and the atmosphere has been lovely. Bradford is contributing nearly £250,000 to cancer research. Every penny of sponsorship money goes towards research.”

This year the charity is hosting 230 Race for Life events across the country, involving 700,000 women and raising around £60 million.

First to cross the line on Sunday was Naomi Armitage, 25, of Idle. She said: “It’s my tenth year doing this.

‘‘My mum’s been in remission from breast cancer for ten years. I promised I would win the race for her one year.” Also at the event was Susan Sroka, 36, of Baildon, a radiotherapy co-ordinator at the Bexley Wing at St James’s Hospital in Leeds. She said: “I wanted to do it for all the cancer patients I have treated over the years.”

Rebecca Bairstow, 31, who travelled from Halifax, said: “My mum and my uncle have both had cancer and recovered so I did it for them and everyone else who has suffered.”

Roz Hartrick, of Alwoodley, Leeds, was part of a team of Bradford district nurses taking part in the race.

She said: “I’m a community matron for Bradford and Airedale PCT and I look after people with cancer. For me it’s about seeing the suffering in the community and wanting to do something to help.”