Hundreds of Bradfordians have pulled together to remember loved ones lost to cancer and fight for those still here at Race for Life 2022.

Around 400 people took on the three different race routes throughout the morning – 3K, 5K and 10K – in the hopes of reaching the £50,000 target for Cancer Research UK.

Lister Park was transformed into a race course, taking runners past the glorious Cartwright Hall, boating lake and blossoming trees.

There was a mix of emotions at the start line - some cheered and danced while others had tears rolling down their face.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Jade and Sheridan took on the 10K route at Race for Life 2022 in Lister Park. Jade and Sheridan took on the 10K route at Race for Life 2022 in Lister Park.

Kelly Hatfield ran Race for Life in memory of her husband Gary.

“It would have been his birthday today,” Kelly told the Telegraph & Argus.

“He died of lung cancer last year so I thought it would be a good idea to do it today on his birthday.

“It’s just for so many people. It’s a disgusting disease and we’ve got to find a cure for it some day so hopefully me doing my little part today would help somebody.”

Race for Life has become a new tradition for runners Sahar and Uzmah.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Sahar and Uzmah, pictured.Sahar and Uzmah, pictured.

Sahar said: “We did the first one in 2020, we did it because the first year it was our grandma who was diagnosed with cancer and it was just a way to bring the family together. We did the second one because my mum was diagnosed.

“This year everyone’s finished their treatment but it’s a long journey, it never really ends, so we just wanted to carry on doing it. We want to do it forever.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Left, two smiling runners by the lake in Lister Park. Right, a woman takes on Race for Life with her dog.Left, two smiling runners by the lake in Lister Park. Right, a woman takes on Race for Life with her dog.

“I have a running group, I set up a group called Together We Are Runners. I train women to do the Couch to 5K and Uzmah is one of my runners. We started running Couch to 5K during lockdown. We were absolute beginners so this is very much our beginning and we just want to carry on going with it. It’s like a tradition now.”

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Nicki Embleton, pictured.Nicki Embleton, pictured.

Nicki Embleton, Cancer Research UK's spokesperson for West Yorkshire, said: “For me, coming back here every year and being back after the pandemic and seeing lots of familiar faces, lots of new faces as well, coming together to do something really positive to play their part to help research into cancer. I’ve been hugging so many people.

“The Gulab Gang, the team of Sikh ladies from Bradford, they are just so wonderful. They come every time to the Race for Life. They’ve got matching outfits on, they were at the front during the warm up doing their dancing – absolutely amazing to see them.

“We’ve got so many people today all here for the same cause. We’ve got identical twins Helen and Deborah who were both diagnosed with the same cancer but 15 years apart, one as a child, one as an adult. They’re here with their amazing mum, the whole family’s doing Race for Life today.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: The Gulab Gang takes on Race for Life every single year.The Gulab Gang takes on Race for Life every single year.

“We love coming to the Bradford Race for Life, we love to be here. It’s great to be back as it was.”

Robert Montgomery, the husband of twin Deborah and brother in law to Helen Wagstaff, had tears in his eyes as he watched his dynamic fundraising family take on the 5K.

The twins were joined on the course by their children, Lisa-Marie Montgomery, 10, and Luke Wagstaff, 12, along with their 75 year old mum June Rankin.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: This group of amazing runners could be heard cheering and celebrating all along the route.This group of amazing runners could be heard cheering and celebrating all along the route.

June, who celebrated her 75th Birthday on Sunday, has already completed the Race for Life Pretty Muddy in Leeds last Saturday and the Race for Life 5k in Scarborough on Wednesday evening.

The army veteran said: “The reason why I think it’s so important is to raise money for everybody that’s gone through cancer, going through cancer, and obviously people remember people who are not here any longer.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Pictured left, two runners honouring their loved ones through Race for Life. Right, Robert Montgomery cheering on his wife Deborah and sister in law Helen at the start line.Pictured left, two runners honouring their loved ones through Race for Life. Right, Robert Montgomery cheering on his wife Deborah and sister in law Helen at the start line.

“One of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do is deal with the cancer. I know my wife and Helen have been through it but the hardest thing is me not being able to take the pain away from my wife when she’s going through all the chemotherapy, the loss of the hair and all the things that goes along with that.

“Her self confidence went lower than rock bottom and you’ve just got to be there for them and be as comforting as you can be.”