Hundreds of men, women and children raised around £42,000 at Irvine’s Race for Life last week.

Over 800 residents joined together and remembered loved ones lost to cancer or celebrated the lives of those who have survived cancer for the 5k/10k events at Irvine Beach Park.

This is the first year that men have been invited to join the main Race for Life event in Irvine, as Cancer Research UK opens the events to everyone.

Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life, in partnership with Tesco, is an inspiring series of 5k, 10k, Pretty Muddy and Pretty Muddy Kids events.

Money raised will help Cancer Research UK scientists find new ways to prevent, diagnose and treat the disease, helping to save more lives.

Lauren Robertson, Cancer Research UK’s Irvine Event Manager said: “We are very grateful to everyone who signed up to take part in our Race for Life event in Irvine.

“Among the crowds of participants are many who have survived cancer themselves or are participating in memory or celebration of loved ones.

“Reading their ‘back signs’, which proclaim their reason for taking part in the Race for Life, is an incredibly moving experience. Many signs have been beautifully decorated, with photographs and drawings, in tribute to loved ones whose lives have been touched by the disease.”

She added: “There is still time to choose a Race for Life event in the West of Scotland and sign up.

“It doesn’t matter how long you take to complete the course or how you do it. You can choose to walk along chatting, or run, or even dance round if you prefer.

“The most important thing is to take part and help raise money so that Cancer Research UK can continue to fund life-saving research.”