The perfect clear skies matched the blue of the runners' vests as more than a thousand people put themselves through their paces to boost vital research into cancer.

Many of the runners in Cancer Research's Run 10k at The Norfolk Showground had lost friends and loved ones to the disease and were determined to raise money to help combat cancer.

With the names of parents, grandparents, sons and daughters and close friends pinned to their backs, some ran the 10km (just over six miles) course at Costessey, while others enjoyed a more leisurely jog or even a stroll.

But finishing times were not what was important here, It was a chance for people affected by cancer to remember loved ones and turn tragedy into a positive way to help others with the disease.

Paul and Debbie Logan travelled all the way from Wokingham in Berkshire to take part in yesterday's event.

They were taking part in memory of their friend Sue Linsdell, a Wymondham mother who died earlier this year of throat cancer at the age of 48.

Mrs Logan, who works for Waitrose, said: 'At her funeral her mother set us a challenge to raise money for Cancer Research, so that's why we are here today.

'It sounded like a good idea back then, but all the training I've done is about six miles on the treadmill, so I think I'll be walking rather than running!

'It's a great charity, though, and a great event.'

Tom and Clare Butler, from Norwich, also had a special reason for taking part in the event. Mr Butler said: 'I am running it in memory of my 34-year-old friend Natalie who died of breast cancer a year ago. It is pretty pertinent to us as it was at around this time of year.

'We thought it was something practical that we could do and Cancer Research does a lot of very good work.'

Gemma Turpin, Cancer Research UK event manager for Norfolk, said: 'It was absolutely fantastic. We had 1,158 men and women involved and that's amazing for a first time event.

'The atmosphere was brilliant and the day could not have gone any better. Everybody got round the course and after a week where we had torrential downpours, the weather was perfect. It was like a summer's day.

'For everyone there it is more than just a run, with many running because relatives have died because of cancer. It's a fantastic way to bring everyone together.

'We all have the same goal - to find a cure for cancer - and this pulls everyone together to raise money to work towards that.'

Cancer Research says someone is diagnosed with cancer in the UK every two minutes and around 39,630 people in the South East are told they have the disease every year.

Run 10k, which is in its eighth year started in 2003 with just three events, but has grown enormously since then.

This was the first year the Run 10K event has been staged at The Norfolk Showground and organisers are optimistic they will hit their target to raise �78,000.

The Costessey run, which was backed by the Evening News, was one of a series of 20 fundraising events taking place throughout the UK this autumn.

The charity hopes over the course of them some 50,000 men and women will come together to raise over �5m to help fund the charity's life-saving work.

For more information on Cancer Research UK and to make donations visit www.cancerresearchuk.org, while visit www.run10k.org for further information about the series of Run 10K events.

• Make sure you get tonight's Evening News for more pictures from this fantastic event.

• Are you raising money for a good cause? Tell us your story by calling Evening News reporter Sam Emanuel on 01603 772438 or email sam.emanuel@archant.co.uk