Yesterday's event attracted elite runners from all over the world, but many were taking part as a tribute to relations they had lost through illness, or those who are fighting off life threatening diseases.

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The first three home at the end of the five-and-a-half-mile seafront course at Seaburn, Gete Wami, from Ethiopia, Nadia Ejaffini, from Bahrain, and the UK's Liz Yelling, had another reason to push
themselves – it was a warm-up for the Bejing Olympic Games.

Yelling, who will be competing in the marathon at Bejing, finished 25th in the event at the Athens Olympics in 2004.

She said: "I am excited about Bejing and I want to do better than I did at Athens. It was only my second ever marathon and I have progressed a lot since then, but it will be hard."

Yesterday's route was supposed to be six miles, but the runners had to miss out half a mile on Roker Pier because of high water at the end of the structure.

The winners received their bouquets from agony aunt Denise Robertson and Coun Mary Smith, the Mayor of Sunderland.

They were followed over the finishing line by the thousands of other participants - not last, and certainly not least, were the Echo's editorial team, led home by Jessica Forster, taking part in one of four runs she is doing for the Grace House Appeal.

Ann Walsh, 49, of East Boldon, had three reasons to do the run in aid of Cancer Research UK – the disease having devastated her family in a little over a year.

Her father died of lung cancer on April 2 last year, her mother, Margaret Cook, 71, from West Boldon, was diagnosed with bowel cancer in February, and her sister, Julie Cook, 45, of South Shields, was diagnosed with breast cancer in April.

After completing the run in 48min 50sec, PE teacher Ann said: "I was thinking about my dad – he'd have been very proud. I was hoping my sister would come along to watch but I think the chemotherapy is taking its toll."

Ann, whose father was a pitman before he became a lorry driver, has already done the Sunderland Race for Life and the Gateshead Race for Life and is aiming to raise £40,000 for Cancer Research UK with a night-long Relay for Life event she is organising at Monkton Stadium in Jarrow on July 12.

Nicola Turnbull, 22, of Dent Street, Fulwell, was taking part with Kaye Whitwell, 23, of Jubilee Avenue, Seaham, as a tribute to Kaye's grandfather, Samuel Hastings, a retired pit electrician who died in March of cancer at the age of 82.

Geordies were made to feel welcome by Wearsiders at yesterday's event – Cheryl Keeler, 39, and Samantha Beck, 40, were running to raise money for the Marfan Trust in memory of friend, Liam Gash, of Fulwell, who died of the disease aged just 19.

Deborah Keirl, 41, a development coach for EDF Energy, of Fulwell cried after crossing the line in a time of one hour five minutes.
She said: "I ran it for my dad and raised about £140 for Marie Curie Cancer Care. It has been really emotional. It's been fantastic. I really enjoyed the route.

"I was tired by the time I got to the Yacht Club and I had to walk around the park but once I saw the finishing line I speeded up."
Mum Maureen Philip and two daughters, Jennifer and Victoria, of Essex Grove, Silksworth, said the atmosphere was electric.

Jennifer, 20 came in first in 1hr 6mins, followed by Victoria, 28, in 1hr 10mins and mum, 53, who was too tired to even look at the clock.
Maureen said: "We all ran it for my mam and dad, their nana and granddad, who both had cancer.

"My dad had cancer of the kidney and my mam had cancer of the bladder and at the moment my mother-in-law is recovering from an operation to remove cancer as well.

"We have had a great day, it's been a lot of fun and we would definitely do it again."

Sisters Donna Walton, 41, and Deb Weedy, 45, from Cramlington, were running for Marie Curie Cancer Care in memory of their dad, Frank Walton, who died of lung cancer in 1996 at the age of 61.

Speaking after the race, Denise Robertson said: "It was majestic. There were an impressive number of Wearsiders running and to see the red and white colours go past the finishing line was fantastic.

"There were some very well trained athletes there along with lots of lovely more well endowed ladies running for charities.

"What was annoying were the three winners who looked as though they hadn't so much as crossed the road, they looked so glamorous without a hair out of place."

The run was not without its casualties – one woman fell and the start and another sustained a nasty facial bruise when she fell at the end of the race.

* Anyone wanting to take part in the Relay for Life can contact Ann Walsh, tel. 563 8562 or 0751 809 3246.

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