IT ALL started in 1994 with 680 women running around Battersea Park to raise £36,000 for Cancer Research UK (CRUK).

Since then 2.7 million women have taken part in Race for Life, raising more than £200m to help beat cancer.

In fact, with more than 260 races taking place across the nation, Race for Life is now the largest women-only fundraising event in the UK with top events in Southampton, Winchester and Newport, Isle of Wight.

This year, some 750,000 women are expected to walk, jog or run the 5k course, raising around £50m for life-saving research.

And the women of Southampton have a particular reason to feel proud.

The Southampton event - now in its twelfth year - has become the largest Race for Life in England, regularly pulling in 10,000 mums, daughters, aunts, nieces, wives and grandmothers.

Last year alone their joint efforts raised more than half a million pounds.

Since the first Southampton race in Royal Victoria Country Park, the women of Southampton have raised an incredible £3m for CRUK.

But none of it would have been possible without the dedication of one woman.

Louise Holland, pictured left, is the brains behind Race for Life as we know it.

She is part of the affectionately-named magnificent seven' - the pioneers of Race for Life who helped take the event from a modest fun run to the massive fundraising phenomenon it is today.

Spirit Inspired by America's successful Race for the Cure, Louise - now CRUK's national events director - set about trying to recreate the spirit and scale of the event in this country.

But she couldn't have predicted how successful her efforts would be.

"I watched a video of one of the recent races and I cried," she says. "I just thought oh my God. Look what we've done - it's really big!' "Cancer is devastating and now effects one in three of us. Race for Life is about remembering those who died and a celebration of the survivors.

"It's also a great personal and fundraising achievement."

But the competitive thrust of the early races has been abandoned, explains Louise.

"We looked at it and thought what are we doing? This should be about having fun'.

"Now it's much more friendly and accessible."

And Louise urges the women of Hampshire to get involved.

"There's no excuse not to do it. You don't have to sprint. You can walk and talk with your friends and raise money for such a good cause.

"Women bonding and sharing experiences is what gives Race for Life its amazing spirit, emotion and passion.

"Our motto is Together We Will Beat Cancer' and I would like to thank all the women who have taken part, all the spectators and the Daily Echo for it's fantastic support. It's about teamwork.

"Everybody knows somebody who is effected by cancer and every women should take part in Race for Life."

l Are you taking part in Race for Life this year?

Let us know your story by calling Paula Thompson on 023 8042 4484 or email paula.thompson@dailyecho.co.uk