16085THANKS to the support of female competitors, including Devizes three-year-old Jessica Smith, the Race For Life at Marlborough on Sunday in aid of Cancer Research UK was a huge success.

Similar events are taking place all across the UK to raise money for the charity's research into treatments and cures for cancers. This is the 11th anniversary of the first ever Race For Life held in Battersea Park in London in 1994 when just under 700 women raised £36,000.

The organisers hope the races taking place the length and breadth of the UK this year will net a cool £23 million.

It's hoped that Sunday's run around the grounds of Marlborough College will contribute at least £60,000 and possibly half as much again by the time all the sponsorship money is collected.

In a bright sunny morning just under 900 women this event is for females only set off to cover the five kilometre course.

Karina Morgan, spokeswoman for Cancer Research UK, said: "With the Race for Life we don't care whether the contestants run or walk the course as long as they cover the five kilometres to get their sponsorship."

The race was started by the Deputy Master of the College, Bob Pick, who was aided and abetted by the Gazette's Gilbert the Gator.

Jessica Smith, whose mum Julia died of cancer in March, was the youngest participant helped along by her grandmothers Gail Smith and Carole Butler. They raised over £1,500 and Jessica, whose mother Julia died of cancer in March, managed to walk quite a good portion of the course.

Mrs Butler said: "It was very cold and windy and poor Jessie got a bit niggly, but she did extremely well, although she did have to be carried for some way.

"But we have raised a lot of money for the charity.

"I would like to thank everyone who sponsored us. The money is still coming in so we are hoping that the final total will be higher."

Jessica's father, Darren Smith, a corporal in the 1st Battalion the Royal Gloucestershire Berkshire and Wiltshire Regiment, is also actively involved in raising money for Cancer Research UK.

He will be running the Kennet Kanter ten-mile run around Devizes in July and on May 26 he will be helping organise a sponsored static bike ride at the Oracle shopping centre in Reading also in aid of the charity.

Volunteers including members of the Marlborough and Pewsey running clubs turned out in droves to help marshal the event and hand out refreshments.

The race was incident free and run entirely off-road around the Marlborough College sports fields. The first handful of contestants across the line were all Marlborough College students eager to support the event.

Some entrants like Marlborough caterer Della Moran, who overcame cancer five years ago, were sponsored for more than £1,000.

Ms Morgan said: "We are confident of reaching our target figure of £60,000 but if the runners have raised an average of £100 each it could be as much as £90,000.