|PIC1|Over 100,000 women have taken part in a charity run in the UK to raise funds to fight cancer.

The women walked, jogged and ran for a total distance of 5km for the 3 June event.

The aim of the run was to raise at least £8.5m, according to organiser Cancer Research UK. Entitled 'One Big Day', the charity has organised 24 'Race for Life' events, which took place at 16 different venues across the UK.

EastEnders actresses Kara Tointon, Kellie Shirley and Pooja Shah, and celebrity chef Nancy Lam also took part in the run.

Louise Holland, from Cancer Research UK, told the BBC: "During the summer, through the 280 races taking part, we hope that over £60m will be raised for Cancer Research UK's vital research."

A total of 110,000 women across the UK took part in the 3 June event, including 5,000 in London.

Kate Saner, a spokeswoman for the event, said it was about women coming together and doing something positive.

She added: "It's quite an emotional day because people are taking part in memory of friends or loved ones, but also they're celebrating their lives or celebrating their own survival of cancer, or friends or family who have survived the disease.

"So it's an incredibly inspiring day, and quite moving."

The 16 venues which hosted Race for Life events were Bath, Belfast, Bradford, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Hull, London, Manchester, Marlborough, Milton Keynes, Nottingham, Oxford, Portsmouth, Sandwell, Sheffield and the Wirrall.

Since it was launched in 1994, Race for Life has established itself as the UK's largest women-only fundraising event.

For more information about Cancer Research UK, and to offer a donation please visit: Cancer Research UK