TWO Sidmouth women were among thousands who gathered at Westpoint near Exeter on Sunday to run the 5 kilometre Race for Life. First-time runners, Anna Bomford, 33, of Alexandria Road, and Mandy French, 34, of Sidford Road, raised �220 in sponsorship.

TWO Sidmouth women were among thousands who gathered at Westpoint near Exeter on Sunday to run the 5 kilometre Race for Life.

First-time runners, Anna Bomford, 33, of Alexandria Road, and Mandy French, 34, of Sidford Road, raised �220 in sponsorship.

Race organisers are hoping to raise a total of �164,000 which will go to Cancer Research.

Anna, who had been training for the event since Easter, said: "It was an excellent atmosphere that even the wet weather did not dampen. I had not run seriously for many years, but was determined to finish in a reasonably good time. The Race for Life is a very worthy cause, which I was pleased to be part of.