more than 2,000 of runners showed true “girl power” grit when they dashed through the mud and rain at a spectacular Race For Life yesterday.

The pink-clad girls and women took to the rain-soaked course at Leverhulme Park to raise more than £110,000 for Cancer Research UK.

Those tackling the 5km route included disabled women, pregnant runners and even toddlers and puppies, with some participants dodging the puddles dressed as boxes, whoopee cushions and leprechauns.

And former Emmerdale and Waterloo Road star Roxanne Pallett brought some star quality to the event when she put on her trainers to join the crowds.

Giving a motivational speech to the runners before the start, Ms Pallett, from Carlisle, said: “It doesn’t even matter if it’s raining — we’ll run through the rain and have an ice cream at the end.

“We’re all Northerners here and we can take it. I am so proud of you all and I wouldn’t want to be doing this anywhere but Bolton.”

Roxanne, aged 29, told The Bolton News why she was taking part.

“When I was 16, my grandmother Monica died of a brain tumour and she was only 62.

“She was like my second mum. She helped me become an actor and would have helped me get to NASA if I told her that I wanted to be an astronaut.

“It was the anniversary of her death on Friday, so I think all our thoughts are with her today. I’m running with my mother and my auntie.”

She added: “Everyone who has been affected by cancer will know that, when you lose someone, overnight you look at it differently.

“It’s a word that stands out. Cancer affects everyone around the person affected, with hospital visits and the emotional effects of seeing someone’s health and personality deteriorate. It’s shocking and it tears you apart.”

As the runners crossed the finish line, they were cheered on by hundreds of loved ones. And one of the first to complete the circuit was Jayne Dickinson, aged 36, from Bromley Cross, who was running with her mother on behalf of a friend who has cancer. Jayne said: “It was a tough run, but really nice to see people patting each other on the back on the way round and giving people support.

“It was lashing it down, but then cleared up, which is great for all these people who have come out.”

The woman who had travelled furthest to take part was Catherine Clark, aged 43, from Auckland in New Zealand. She said: “I come over to visit relatives a lot and always take the chance to run the Race For Life when I’m here. This is my third time.

“I love the atmosphere and am so humbled by how many people who take part.”