THEY have done it again.

Once more, women from Basingstoke and around the borough have come out in their thousands to join the fight against cancer.

More than 2,000 women took part in the 2015 Race for Life, which is expected to raise in excess of £100,000 for Cancer Research UK.

Our six-page special in today’s edition hopefully goes some way towards capturing the spirit of what can be a difficult but inspiring occasion.

It is certainly true that most people are affected by cancer one way or another, and many of those who took part did so with someone in mind.

Inspirational messages were written on runners’ shirts and on a special board, and no doubt many there would have been thinking of loved ones who lost their battle with the disease. Others took part for the challenge of attempting a 5K run, and their efforts should be applauded too.

The money from the event will fund research into more than 200 types of cancer, and one can only hope that these vital funds might deliver a breakthrough in the battle against the disease.

What is clear though is that this event brings the best out of the town.

The way women turn out year after year makes it one of the most vital and popular events on the fundraising calender.

You don’t have to look further than Oakridge mum Nicky Townsin to see the impact of the event. The 45-year-old mother-of-four, who was diagnosed with cervical cancer last year and underwent chemotherapy and radiotherapy, said: “The way that everyone comes together – you just can’t explain to people what it feels like.”