THE words amazing and overwhelmed provided the vocabulary to describe this year s Pink Ribbon Run/Walk on Sunday. Almost 1,000 people turned out for the event on Therfield Heath – and organisers are now hoping that more than £40,000 will be raised for

THE words "amazing" and "overwhelmed" provided the vocabulary to describe this year's Pink Ribbon Run/Walk on Sunday.

Almost 1,000 people turned out for the event on Therfield Heath - and organisers are now hoping that more than £40,000 will be raised for Cancer Research UK.

In the past three years the event has donated more than £60,000 to the charity.

Michaela Huffer, one of the organisers, said: "We were overwhelmed by the turnout and seeing all those people dress in pink.

"There really was an amazing atmosphere for the event," she said. "It was definitely the best one yet."

And she added: "I think there were a lot of people who believed they took part in something special."

Sarah Williamson, from Cancer Research UK, said: "It was quite amazing just to see so many people taking part.

She said she believed the event attracted such a large turnout because most people in some way had been touched by cancer.

"It just shows that there are so many people to give support to such a charity," she said.

In the past five years the event has grown from just 40 people taking part.

Five years ago Cathryn Norman, a member of Royston Runners, was upset about not being able to enter a charity event in Cambridge because it was over-subscribed.

With the help of Royston Runners' chairman Maurice Hill, a course was marked out on the heath, and £800 was raised.

The next year 100 people took part and £3,000 was raised.

Cathryn said: "It's amazing the way it has grown.

"It just shows that there are so many willing to support the charity.

"I would not have thought of it becoming such an event when we started with such a small number."

The organisers will be handing over a cheque to Cancer Research UK in September.