THE rain couldn’t stop those taking part in the Race for Life as the Dorchester venue was turned into a sea of pink.

Cancer Research UK’s Pink Army were out in force at Kingston Maurward College near the county town earlier today to help raise money to battle cancer.

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More than 1,600 ladies and children took part in the event and there were some amazing costumes on display including unicorn horns, fairy wings, leg warmers, head-boppers, magic wands, tutus, wigs, badges and flowers, the grey and drizzly conditions couldn’t dampen the spirits.

Sue Grey, 67, and Lynn Calloway, 49, had unicorn headdresses on. Their group The Unicorns had raised more than £400 already. Lynn said: “It’s a good cause.”

They said they had been getting ready by walking from Rodwell to Dorchester each Wednesday and will be taking on Weldmar’s Midnight Walk later this summer.

Around 30 staff from Dorset County Hospital took part as team DCH and are aiming to have raised £2,000 for the cause.

Six cadets from the Dorchester Army Cadet force also took part.

Friends Karen Case, 57, Sarah Atherton, 47, and Susan Gibbs, 55, all from Weymouth, were joined for the event by Karen’s sister-in-law from Tenerife, Gina Case, 54.

Gina, together with three friends set up the Walk for Life on the island ten years ago and the event raised 25,000 Euro last year alone to help fight cancer. She said she came to support Karen, adding: “I’m somewhat familiar with it but it’s a totally different surrounding.”

Karen, has just started a support group in Dorchester called Go Girls for gynaecological cancer patients. Karen said she herself had battled ovarian cancer, adding: “I’ve just had the all clear.”

Susan Gibbs helps run a breast cancer support group in Weymouth called Bandana, she said: “It’s a brilliant atmosphere at the race. I have never done one before – it’s a great turn out.”

Gwyn Bates, 61, and her friend Christine Smith, 61, had travelled from Blandford, Gwyn said: “It’s good- it’s pretty emotional really.”

A minute's silence was held to remember all those affected by cancer and the ladies heard some inspiring stories from those who had survived the disease.

There were pink smoke cannons and ribbon fired out across the crowd as the ladies heard about the work CRUK was doing to fight more than 200 types of cancer.

The ladies then did a dance warm-up with Lou Sams before the event and the whole crowd was dancing along to Fireball and the classic hit from the film Dirty Dancing – (I’ve Had) The Time of My Life.

The crowd then split into three groups- the runners, joggers and walkers and headed to the start line as the first drops of rain fell.

First back across the line in just over 22 minutes was 10-year-old Jordan Williams, closely followed by Alice Adams, 13, who said it had been a really good event.

Sue Tagg from the Dorset Police Athletics Club was also one of the first back across the line in 23 minutes and 39 seconds. She said: “It’s a good course. The atmosphere is really nice.”

Event Manager Maxine Bateman from CRUK, said a huge thank you to everyone who had taken part and helped join the fight against cancer.

She said it had been a great event, adding: “The weather hasn’t put us off. The ladies have shown us they are part of the Pink Army. We are well and truly beating cancer today.”

She urged people to get online and send in their sponsorship money, adding: “It doesn’t matter how little they have raised – every pound makes a big difference.”