Thousands of runners, walkers and joggers participated in charity runs in memory of cancer victims. Nearly 10,500 women came to Heaton Park for this year’s Race for Life on Sunday morning.

Most of women were adorned in pink and they were carrying the names of loved-ones on their vests.

Keeping the huge number of participants in consideration, the organizers had to organize three events.

Many families thronged the park to encourage the participants.

Val Coupes, the guest of honour for the event, started the race. She is the patient of terminal cancer. Val, 34, was diagnosed with malignant melanoma eight years ago. Val had to undergo a surgery at Wythenshawe Hospital, which included a skin graft from her leg.

There were many young runners for the Race, one of them 12 years old Natalia Nunes. She finished the 5K meter track in the short span of just 23 minutes. She defeated her own mother by two minutes.

The Race for Life by Cancer Research is the largest series of fund-raising events, which is all for women.

In the flagship race, nearly 2,250 women participated in the 5 kilometer race on Sunday afternoon. In a 10 kilometer race on Saturday, 1,750 women took part.