A stream of pink flowed around Arthur's Seat in Edinburgh yesterday as more than 5000 women took part in a sponsored charity run for cancer research.

The start of the capital's Race For Life event was signalled by a blast on an air horn sounded by 48-year-old Alison Brown, an Edinburgh woman who survived breast cancer after being diagnosed on Hogmanay 2010.

She and her 11-year-old daughter, Rosie, were guests of honour as 5600 women undertook either a five or a 10 kilometre run in the event organised by Cancer Research UK. Almost all wore pink and many had signs on their backs carrying pictures of the friends and loved ones in whose name they were running.

"It's really moving seeing all the ladies wearing the signs on their backs to explain why they are taking place," said Mrs Brown.

The Race For Life campaign began in 1994 with an event held in London's Battersea Park which attracted 680 runners.

This year, Cancer Research UK hopes to attract 560,000 women to the 230 events being held across the UK.

Hamish Moir, Race For Life event manager for Edinburgh, said: "By taking part, these ladies are helping Cancer Research UK's doctors, nurses and scientists make advances in research which will help more men, women and children survive."