THOUSANDS of women and girls of all ages joined forces to do their bit in the fight against cancer.

Stanmer Park in Brighton was a sea of pink on Saturday and Sunday as Cancer Research UK staged three Race for Life events.

Many of the more than 3,000 people taking part were decked out in fancy dress, including ballerina outfits, feather boas, cowboy hats and 1950s costumes.

They were all there to run or walk 5km or 10km around the park to raise money for the charity.

Some were taking part in memory of a relative, friend or work colleague who had died while others were doing it to mark their own survival of the disease.

Others were keen to take part simply to do what they could to support the charity’s vital work researching the causes and treatment of cancer.

On Saturday organisers also staged the first Race for Life Pretty Muddy event for Sussex – a 5km obstacle course with added mud.

The weather was hot and sunny as scores of women made their way around the course, which included a giant slide with mud at the bottom.

There was also a section where they had to crawl on their hands and knees through mud.

The weather took a turn for the worse yesterday morning with heavy rain but thousands still turned up determined to do their bit at the 5km and 10km races.

They included Carla Ibrahim, 65, from Woodingdean, Brighton, who has done the event for the last seven or eight years.

She said: “I lost mother to cancer and I have also lost some friends over the years.

“I just want to do what I can to help others and this is a great event, despite the rain.”

Mother and daughter Jane and Hayley Rough and cousin Shania Reeves from Horsham are hoping to raise about £150 for the charity.

Shania said: “This is a really important cause as most of us know someone who has been affected by cancer.”

Others taking part included Phoebe Braterman, eight, from Brighton, whose mother Nikki died in March.

Mrs Braterman was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia in December 2013 and had a bone marrow stem cell transplant.

However, she died nine days later after developing an infection as a result of complications.

Phoebe has managed to raise more than £4,000 for Cancer Research UK.

Organisers are hoping this year’s races will raise up to £250,000 and are reminding people to make sure they collect their donations and send them in.