AN amazing £34,000 was raised in this year s Pink Ribbon Run/Walk. And over the past two years more than £50,000 has been raised for the charity Cancer Research UK. James Summers, from Cancer Research UK, said he was absolutely gobsmacked by the rising

AN amazing £34,000 was raised in this year's Pink Ribbon Run/Walk.

And over the past two years more than £50,000 has been raised for the charity Cancer Research UK.

James Summers, from Cancer Research UK, said he was "absolutely gobsmacked" by the rising of such an amount.

The money came from the event when 700 people completed a course around Therfield Heath.

He said that talking to people who had taken part in the event "it was obvious that everyone had a story of being touched by this terrible disease".

He said the money raised would be used directly for research work.

Mr Summers added: "It was just amazing on the day to see such a sea of pink."

Mr Summers was given a cheque for £34,000 during a presentation at the Heath Sports Centre on Thursday evening.

In spite of the event's success, organisers are already planning for next year.

Michaela Huffer, one of the organisers, said she is hoping that 1,000 people will take part next year.

And she said organisers were now "actively seeking" sponsors, although Royston-based chartered accountants WKH has already said it will continue as the main sponsor.

The presentation evening saw, too, certificates given to those who had raised more than £250 from the event.

These includes a group of Pink Ladies from Freman College in Buntingford, who raised £3,500.

Other certificates were presented to Michelle Bonfield, Maureen Huffer, Jean Mason, Lisa Wiltshire, Jessica Wiltshire, Stuart Lawrence, Kate Dobbing, Pauline Sullivan, Caroline Piggott, Alison Hubbard, Clare Murphy, Katie Pitfield, Melissa Stacy, Sally Gilbert, Georgia Clark, Julia Costello, Ann Arthur, Pat Lewis, Mary Wire and Ellie Simons.

- Next year's Pink Run/Walk will be taking place on Therfield Heath on June 15.

- If anyone still has sponsorship money, they can pay it in at the Royston-branch of the Saffron Building Society.