Houghton Hall is a sea of pink for inspiring Race for Life run
The fight against cancer unified participants as they completed a race route in the grounds of an 18th-century country house.
Houghton Hall was the picturesque setting for the 2019 Race for Life as runners of all ages raised funds for Cancer Research UK.
At the start of the race, it was announced that £39,000 had been raised for the charity so far with more donations being collected by volunteers on the day.
One volunteer, Mick Ennis, of Gaywood, spoke to the runners at the start-line. Mr Ennis told them how he had lost his wife and 49-year-old daughter to cancer.
His brother also survived after a battle with prostate cancer in his 80s.
Mr Ennis told the runners: “I’m sorry you are all here because you have lost someone to cancer or who has cancer.
“Let’s enjoy it tonight with no crying. Instead, we want laughing and shouting and let’s hope you all have a good run.”
Each runner had a personal message attached to them as they ran which was then put up on a Race for Life memory board.
A minute of silence was also observed before the race in memory of those lost to cancer.
Callum Kimber, 20, of Dersingham completed the run in the fastest time of 20 minutes 15 seconds.
Mr Kimber, who attends Sheffield Hallam University, had a message in memory of his three grandparents who had died of cancer.
As well as finishing first, Mr Kimber had won a personal bet with a friend with the quickest of the two being treated to a Nando's dinner.
Another runner Ceridwen Howell has been taking part since 2012 after her sister had breast cancer.
She was running in a Runners-next-the-Sea team alongsideVikki Powles who said she had been running Race for Life since 2003, including when she was pregnant in 2005. Her waters broke during the run that year.
She said: "Race for Life has always meant a lot to me. It's such a nice atmosphere and lovely that men can now do it too."
A team of 14 from Towergate Insurance Brokers also took part.
Managing director David Mummery said: “It’s hard going but it’s a bit of pilgrimage and a beautiful course.
"We have a bit of a mixture in our team, some will be walking it but the good thing here is that you do not have to feel like you have to run. There is no pressure and different abilities can take part."
A team from Zoe Hair Design in Swaffham, who raised £300 as a team.
Manager of the business, Zoe Wright, said many of their customers had been affected by cancer and had shown their support for the cause.
Another participant, Alison Olby of Hockering, said it was her 17th year having also run in Norwich and London.
Carole Turner and Andrea Pye travelled from Grantham for the event.
They both dyed their hair blue for the event in honour of Carole's cousin, who died in 2014 and whose favourite colour was blue.
Collecting donations at the event, volunteer Joan Harding, who works in the Cancer Research shop, said: "My mother worked at the shop years and years, and being retired now, I wanted to support them.
"No members of my family have been affected by cancer but you never know."
Race For Life 2019 in the grounds of Houghton Hall..Just some of the hundreds of people taking part in the event.. (13927166)
