Sorry, this video asset has been removed.

Watch the city's first
ever Race for Life.

The first Canterbury Race for
Life has been hailed a big success after 1,500 women and girls
gathered to take part in the 5k run on Sunday morning.

Organised by Cancer Research UK,
the charity chose a scenic route around the University of Kent
campus for the city’s inaugural event.

It attracted runners of all ages
from five to 75 and event manager Natasha Etienne said she had been overwhelmed by the response.

Many of those taking part had
poignant messages pinned to their backs, either supporting someone
battling cancer or in memory of a lost loved one.

They included 22-year-old sales
assistant Whitney Thompson from Golden Hill, Whitstable, whose
56-year-old father, Paddy is being treated for prostate cancer.

She said: "It’s actually his
birthday today but he is away. I spoke to him on the phone this
morning and he was quite choked up that I was taking part."

The day was also very emotional for
student nurse Katy Moyses, 22, from Herne, who was taking part in
memory of her dad, William Hewett who died from cancer when she was
just 11-years-old.

Theirs were among hundreds of
similar stories of the tragedy of cancer or the triumphs of those
who are beating it, which Cancer Research UK its hopes through its
work will increasingly be the case.

Some keen runners took the
opportunity to make a race of it and first across the finishing
line was 29-year-old Amanda Reame who works for Pfizer and lives
near the university campus in Rough Common.

She finished in 22 minutes, just a
fraction of a second ahead of two other competitors.

She said: "I think a few of us
actually did more than 5k because we got diverted the wrong way by
a marshell, but it was still good fun."

But many completed the course at a
more leisurely jog or even walk because it was the taking part that
mattered, And they were all rewarded with a Race For Life goodie
bag and medal.

Afterwards Natasha said: "To get
1,500 entries for our first event in Canterbury is fantastic and we
now hope it will build and build until we reach our ultimate target
of 3,000."

"It was a brilliant day and I think
we have found a perfect venue on the campus which I hope, with the
university’s permission, we can come back to.

"The atmosphere was great and I am
just urging all the runners to now get their sponsorship money into
us as soon as possible so we can put it to use helping to save
lives."

For more pictures and the
full report, see this Thursday's Kentish Gazette.