There was no point worrying about the weather for women lining up to start this year’s newest Race for Life event.

While the rain managed to hold off on Saturday morning, those taking part in Carlisle’s first ever Pretty Muddy 5k run for Cancer Research UK never had a hope of staying dry. Even before they crossed the starting line, each wave of the event’s 1,600 participants were drenched with water pistols as they prepared to crawl, hurdle and slide through giant mud pits.

Afterwards, Friends and families proudly took pictures of themselves drenched in mud, the names they bore on their backs no longer visible but never forgotten. One Race for Life regular, who took a year off to fight her own battle with cancer, came back with a bang as she and a huge team of friends ran, slipped and skidded around the huge inflatable obstacle course.

Claire Clarke had taken part in Cancer Research UK’s annual women-only event six times before being diagnosed with gastrointestinal cancer in March 2015. She received the all clear on Christmas Eve.

The 30-year-old, of Whitehaven, said: “I had to miss last year’s race because I was too ill and, really, this is the first time we’ve had such a close-to-home reason to to it.

“Without Cancer Research, I wouldn’t have been able to get the treatment I needed. Now I want to raise money so it can help more people.”

A full weekend of Race for Life events continued at Bitts Park on Sunday, with the annual 10k runners setting off first followed by the 5k participants. Despite the rain having set in, it was smiles all round for the day’s 1,750 pink-clad participants.

Bringing up the rear of the longer event were 14-year-old Silloth schoolgirl, Alana Halpin and her 15-year-old friend, Lucy Edgar from Carlisle. Having taken part in the 10k twice before, the tenacious teenagers decided to inspire additional sponsorship by tackling the first 5k as a three-legged race before completing the second half with the wrists tied together.

Both girls have been doing the Race for Life since Alana’s mum, Dee Bosward, fought breast cancer in 2014.

Miss Bosward, 49, said: “I’m very proud of her. When I was diagnosed, Alana was my primary concern because there’s only the two of us, but she’s handled it really well.”

All three of the weekend’s events are estimated to have raised a combined total of £200,000.