A splash of colour
Reporter: JANICE BARKER; Pictures by CHRIS SUNDERLAND
Date published: 20 July 2009
The skies were grey and the rain lashed down — but it didn’t stop 2,600 Oldham women taking part in Race for Life yesterday.
Despite the downpours, the sixth Cancer Research three- mile event was another success with women and girls, old and young, wrapped in plastic capes and black bin liners warming up on soggy fields.
The good-humoured session, combined with the pulsing music, soon had everyone smiling and stretching before cancer-battler Kirsty Topham counted them down to the 11am start in Alexandra Park.
Kirsty, an Army cadet instructor, normally helps out at the Oldham Race for Life. But after being diagnosed with breast cancer at 27, she was the guest of honour, taking part herself, and also setting the runners, joggers and walkers off from the start line.
Despite undergoing chemotherapy, to be followed by radiotherapy, Kirsty, was determined to walk the course which included a lap of the park, Queens Road, Kings Road, round Snipe Clough Playing Fields, up hill on Alexandra Road, before finishing again in the park.
Despite the weather, there were hundreds of supporters in the park and along the route. Army cadets handed out water, medals and goodie bags, and a host of volunteers marshalled the event, which should raise £135,000 for work at the Paterson Institute for Cancer Research in Withington.
Another Cancer Research UK charity run takes place at Heaton Park, Manchester, on September 13. Visit www.run10k.org for further information.
