IT may have been pouring down but Witton Park's seventh annual Race For Life had its biggest ever turnout to boost the fight against cancer.

And the 2,700 East Lancashire women who ran, jogged or walked the 5km (3.3 mile) circuit last night raised £120,000 -- taking the cumulative total in the history of the Blackburn event to over half a million pounds.

Last year, 2,150 women took part and raised £90,000.

Around 150 similar events are taking place across the country, bringing in more than £20million for Cancer Research UK -- cash vital to finding cures and providing treatment.

Participants of all ages set off from near the park's pavilion and returned nearby to receive applause, medals and welcome bottles of water.

Many wore poignant banners on their backs bearing the name of a loved one lost to cancer -- or those who were 'survivors'.

Some bore just first names, others said 'mum', 'dad or 'grandma'. One young Blackburn Rovers fan had the name 'Jack Walker', in memory of the club's benefactor, who succumbed to the disease.

Katie Lambert, organiser of the race, said: "Despite the weather, it was fantastic. It has been a really good turnout.

"It had been raining all day. We expected 15 per cent of people to drop out, but only five per cent did.

"This event is very, very important. Without these people taking part we could not do the work we do.

"It has had a huge effect in providing cures and treatment. Because of this we are seeing treatments coming through and finding we are catching cancer in the early stages.

"For the people taking part, it is a celebration of the life of someone's life or if they are a survivor.

"There is a real sense of achievement -- and they should be very proud of what they have done tonight."

Hairdresser Nicolette Staffa, 19, power walked in memory of her aunty Sharon who died aged 47 two years ago.

She was joined by Zonya Parker, 27, a work mate from Holly Tree Hair, in Pine Wood, Blackburn.

Nicolette said: "I lost my aunty and we have lost a lot of customers to cancer. We raised £300 by collecting it in the shop and I think it is a brilliant idea."

Helen Higson, 43, of Clitheroe, who works for Blackburn's Global Electrical Engineering, was running in memory of her brother-in-law Stuart Porter and father-in-law John Higson.

She said: "It is emotional at the beginning when you see all the names and there is a great atmosphere when you go around. It's brilliant."

Many companies and organisations enrolled groups of entrants, including 86 women and girls from Queen Elizabeth Grammar School's junior school in Blackburn and 90 from Hyndburn and Ribble Valley Primary Care Trust.raised £300 by collecting it in the shop and I think it is a brilliant idea."

Helen Higson, 43, of Clitheroe, who works for Blackburn's Global Electrical Engineering, was running in memory of her brother-in-law Stuart Porter and father-in-law John Higson.

She said: "It is emotional at the beginning when you see all the names and there is a great atmosphere when you go around. It's brilliant."

Many companies and organisations enrolled groups of entrants, including 86 women and girls from Queen Elizabeth Grammar School's junior school in Blackburn and 90 from Hyndburn and Ribble Valley Primary Care Trust.