HUNDREDS of women are donning pink to take part in a huge weekend of fundraising for cancer research.

Around 1,100 women are expected to turn out for Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life in Durham on Sunday, July 2.

The women’s only event is taking place at St Leonard’s sports fields and hundreds are expected to turn out to cheer for those running the five kilometre race.

Among those running will be a team from Meadowfield Ladies Netball Club, who decided to take part after one of their members was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2011.

Heather Buckle, a netball development officer for South Durham and Cleveland, was diagnosed after discovering a lump in her right breast.

After a lumpectomy she underwent chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

She said: “I have no doubt that I would not be here if it were not for the research carried out into cancer. All my treatment was based on statistics previously successful for my type and grade of cancer and for women in my age bracket.

“Thanks to research I was able to beat cancer and show that it doesn’t have to be a death sentence. Now I’m able to live life to the full and do something that I love.”

More than 50,000 people are taking part in Race for Life events across the county this weekend.