The Race for Life has been taking place around the country in aid of Cancer Research UK since 1994 and Sheffield is Yorkshire's biggest.
The event last Sunday had been taking shape for a year and the organising team included more than 90 volunteers, including students from Sheffield Hallam University and scouts from Penistone, working as marshalls and helpers at the start and finish line at Don Valley Stadium.
"Without their support it wouldn't happen," said Sheffield organiser Helen Webster. "It's uplifting and emotional. Many women wear signs saying why they're here and it makes everything worth it when you read the signs and see why they've done it."
The notices on the pink running tops listed relatives or friends who'd died from cancer but there were also plenty noting people who'd survived, or were "fighting".
"Many come because they have relatives affected by cancer, or they've lost someone, or to mark someone who's survived, or they might be survivors themselves," said Helen.
She expected the Sheffield race to raise more than £500,000. "Every penny goes towards researching cancer. The charity spends over a million pounds in Sheffield each year on scientists, nurses and doctors to enable them to make new developments and the money raised from Race for Life goes a long way towards finding that."
Eleven-year-old Saskia James, a pupil at Wybourn Primary, said: "I've asked my friends, my mum's mates and my teachers and they said: 'Go on Saskia! Go for it'!"
Saskia saw the event advertised on the television, said her mum Dawn Norton, and despite not normally being a walker, Saskia was inspired to take part in memory of her cousin Mark, who died from cancer last year.
Nine-month-old Neve Turner was technically taking part for her second year, said her mum Caroline Gordon, who took part in the June heat last year, despite being seven months pregnant at the time.
"She was quite quiet last time, although she did make her presence felt a few times on the way round," said Caroline. Being pregnant didn't put me off but it was a really hot day and in the lead-up I was thinking: 'Oh no, what am I doing'?
"But when I got here the atmosphere was so good, I got loads of energy and I really enjoyed it. It was a lovely day, so I decided to bring her again and now we'll do it every year."
Caroline and her family were running in memory of her grandmother Margaret, who died from breast cancer two years ago.
Caroline's mum, Sue Helliwell, reckoned her own mum would have been impressed by the day. "She'd have taken part herself if she could," said Sue. "Her cancer was such a shock to us, so when this event came up we wanted to take part.
"Cancer affects so many people and even if you don't raise millions yourself, it raises awareness that everyone can be affected.
"Then to get here and see everyone else, it's also a fantastic day out."
Helen Webster said that demand in Sheffield had grown so much from the original 800 participants in the 1990s that the city now had need for two races, with one morning and one afternoon start to accommodate the thousands of runners.
One Sheffield company were fielding almost half their workforce for the race: 25 women from the MM Bell and Sons packaging company were running for the benefit of family members and work colleagues affected by cancer.
"Everyone's got different stories but we all wanted to get together to do something positive," said Kay Wasden.
Kay's colleague Emma Biggin was running in memory of several relatives.
"It's a big thing in my family and I've got to have tests myself," said Emma, referring to the possibility she may have picked up a genetic link making her more susceptible to some forms of cancer.
"It's a good cause to raise a bit of money to help. I suppose it helps us make one step closer to finding a cure."
"I'm doing it for relatives but I'm doing it for everybody, really," said Emma Strutt, who remarked on the stories she'd read and heard from other runners. "My heart goes out to everybody. We all need to do as much as we can."



BUY ONLINE: The Sheffield Telegraph and Property Guide are now out every Thursday. To sign up on line click here.



MORE:
Local News
Local Sport
Arts Guide
Community News
Listings Guide
Restaurant Guide
Letters