NEARLY 1,000 runners tackled the Pretty Muddy courses as well as the three, five and 10k runs at Poole Race for Life.

Event organiser Joe Hutchinson told the Echo: "I think what's been best for us is that we've been able to get people out again, we've been implementing all the Covid restrictions and making sure that we're running the event safely to encourage people to come out, so to then see people support that effort, has been amazing.

"We've been blessed with the weather which always makes a massive difference and in terms of the way the years been going, the turnout has been amazing. It's been so nice to see this field go pink again."

Bournemouth Echo:

Picture: Corin Messer 

Two runners who take part every year, said: "We've always done it, it's a routine now really and we missed taking part last year, so we're glad to be back."

A group of women who arranged to run together through work, said: "We're running because we want to raise money for cancer research. We have friends and family who have suffered with cancer and we've set up this group at work to raise as much money as we can."

Sam, Tammy, Sarah and Shelly, were also running for friends and family members with cancer, including Sam's mother in law who had cervical cancer and a recent breast cancer scare.

Bournemouth Echo:

Picture: Corin Messer 

Another runner said: "I'm running for my mum, she was diagnosed with breast cancer 10 years ago but she survived and she's here so I'm doing it for her and to raise awareness for everyone else."

Organiser Joe Hutchinson said that Cancer Research UK are hoping to raise £3.8 million this year, through events such as this one.