THOUSANDS of people across Windsor united against cancer to raise £256,000 at the 30th anniversary of Race for Life.

More than 2,600 people took part in the 3k, 5k, 10k and Pretty Muddy obstacle races at Windsor Racecourse on Saturday, June 3 to help support life-saving research.

This is the 30th year of Race for Life and participants received an exclusive medal to mark the milestone. 

An event spokesperson said: “It was an emotional event as people remembered loved ones lost, celebrated survivors and supported those currently living with cancer.”

Some took part in the event to celebrate their birthday, as well as raising money including 10-year-old George Mansini.

Elisa Mitchell, Cancer Research UK’s spokesperson in Berkshire, said: “We are incredibly grateful to everyone who took part in Race for Life Windsor.   

“Life-saving research is being funded right now thanks to our supporters who fundraise. The atmosphere at Race for Life Windsor was hugely moving - full of emotion, courage, tears and laughter as people celebrated the lives of those dear to them who have survived cancer and remembered loved ones lost to the disease."

Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life raises funds for world-class research to help beat 200 types of cancer – including bowel cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer, lung, testicular cancer, brain cancer, children’s cancers and leukaemia.       

Every year around 53,500 people are diagnosed with cancer in the South East, and one in two people in the UK born after 1960 will get cancer in their lifetime, according to Cancer Research UK data.

Chief executive of Standard Life, part of Phoenix Group, Andy Curran, said: “We are extremely proud to have been chosen as the headline sponsor of Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life. This sponsorship will help encourage participation and raise funds for life-saving research to help beat cancer.”      

 Participants are urged to send fundraising money as soon as possible, to help "save more lives."

For those who missed out on the Windsor event, Race for Life is also taking place at Newbury Racecourse on June 25, in Reading on July 15 and 16, and High Wycombe on July 23.