HULL city centre was awash with pink as thousands of women and children gathered for the city's Race For Life.
More than 3,500 braved the blistering temperatures yesterday to take part in the three-mile race, raising an estimated £135,000 for Cancer Research UK.
The race returned to the city centre after a number of years out at Costello Stadium, in west Hull, and was officially started by the Mayor of Hull, Councillor Nadine Fudge, and Miss Teen Great Britain, Jessica Turner.
Jessica, 19, said: "It was an absolute honour to be asked to open the race.
"I lost my grandma, Pauline, to cancer and I know how proud she would be of me today, running for such a good cause."
Thousands of women joined the group warm-up in Queens Gardens before making their way to the starting line on Alfred Gelder Street.
Cllr Fudge said: "This is a fantastic event for the city.
"Every year, it gets bigger and better and we are delighted to have the race back in the city centre.
"Everyone here should be very proud of themselves for helping such a great cause."
Whether they were walking, jogging or running, every woman had their own emotional story to tell.
Clare Ostler, of east Hull, was running the race with her friend Louise Ward in recognition of her son Thomas Daniel, who has battled Neuroblastoma.
Clare said: "Thomas is now 20 months old. He had the operation to remove the tumour when he was one and, so far, things are looking positive."
Thomas and his twin brother Oscar also took part in the race, helping raise about £1,500.
Also taking part was Melissa Toft, 22, of Hull.
Melissa said: "I lost my mum, Melanie, to breast cancer in December.
"This is the first time I have done Race For Life.
"I have had T-shirts printed especially with photographs of mum on the front."
Caroline Brooke, of Hessle, and her daughter Louise decided to take part in the event in memory of Caroline's partner, Tom, who died from liver cancer.
Caroline said: "We are also doing the race for my mum, who is currently battling cancer."
Fundraisers started gathering as early as 8.30am to get ready for the event.
• Gallery: Dozens of pictures from Race For Life in Hull city centre
The race started from Queens Gardens down Lowgate, before runners made their way across the River Hull on to the newly opened swing bridge.
The circuit then passed The Deep and headed back to the Marina.
The route also took in the city centre, passing Holy Trinity Church and down Whitefriargate, on towards Ferens Art Gallery.
The final stretch took fundraisers down Paragon Street to the war memorial, then back along Jameson Street and into Queens Gardens.
First past the finish line was ten-year-old Grace Sullivan, of Lincolnshire.
Grace, who has also won the Lincoln and Cleethorpe's Race For Life, said: "My grandma died from cancer when I was little and all I have of her is a photograph of her holding me when I was a baby.
"My uncle also died of cancer, so I wanted to raise money in his memory, too."
Among the crowd were a team of 20 called Mandy's Cake Eaters, who were walking the circuit in memory of Mandy Hoey, of South Cave.
Mandy's friend Caroline Charlton, 39, said: "We had a really lovely day.
"The run was gorgeous and we all did really well.
"Today was particularly emotional because Mandy's two eldest girls were doing it with us.
"Mandy would have been very proud of us – she'll be giggling away, wherever she is."
Mandy, a mum to four girls, died in February, aged 39, after battling non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
Her two eldest daughters Lizzy, nine, and Milly, six, walked the race with the group of 20.
Caroline, who also lives in South Cave, said: "Our original target was about £300 but we've already gone over that. We're hoping the final figure will be about £500 or £600."
Jenny Murgatroyd, Race For Life event manager for Hull, was extremely pleased with how the day went.
She said: "We are delighted to be back in the city centre. We are all here for one reason and that is to beat cancer.
"I lost my mum to cancer 11 years ago and now my children are without a grandma.
"I want us all to work as hard as we can to beat cancer so other people will still have their grandparents around."
The money raised from the Hull Race For Life will be donated to Cancer Research UK, in a bid to find a cure for all 200 types of cancer.
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