Many chose to do the 5km race at Temple Newsam in pink fancy dress – Race for Life's colour of choice– and had come up with an impressive array of costumes.

Groups of friends and families soaked up the fun before the morning and afternoon events, but the day was also bittersweet.

Most runners wore poignant signs explaining who they were running for, while relatives and friends of June Rowling went one step further by making signs featuring her photo.

June, from Mirfield, died in July last year aged 48 from a rare form of sarcoma, leaving behind her husband Philip and children Emily and Elliot.

Her sister Carolyn Green, from Gildersome, and best friend Bev Myers, from Shipley, were among the 14-strong team running in June's memory.

Bev said: "June actually raised thousands of pounds for charities through Mirfield Ladies Circle."

"She was always a doer," Carolyn added,"She had even done a couple of these races before she got ill."

Former Leeds University student Alice Patterson was doing the race in memory of her mum Christine who died from breast cancer when Alice was just eight.

The 21-year-old trainee maths teacher, together with fellow Leeds students Hannah Morrell and Sarah Dobson, also wanted to take part because of other friends who have been affected.

Some of the most impressive costumes belonged to Claire Kirby and her family, from Dewsbury and Heckmondwike, who donned Minnie Mouse outfits. Six-year-old Hannah Wills, daughter of Claire's cousin Jenny, was behind the choice.

Claire, who was running for her mother and father-in-law, said: "Jenny has done the race before and there's a great atmosphere. We want to raise as much as possible... hopefully £800 between us."

Carole Hainsworth of Horsforth, Leeds, said her group were wearing pink silky pyjamas because they weren't keen on getting out of bed on a Sunday morning.

She added: "We are running in memory of my mum, Jen Gaunt, who died in 2005 from secondary breast cancer. The day is fantastic with everybody together."

Before the start, ladies were entertained by a troupe of Nivea-sponsored dancers and then took part in a mass aerobics warm-up.

Race organiser Jenny Key said she was thrilled with how the events had gone and said: "It was absolutely fantastic. The weather stayed out for us, it was dry, there was a really good turnout and everybody finished. It was a great day."

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