Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, Mayor of Poole 2006/07

The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, started the Race For Life in Poole Park, but was unable to take part as she had hoped due to bad weather and recent stress on her broken leg.

Almost 1800 runners turned out on an exceptionally wet Sunday morning to run (or rather paddle) for charity in the third occurrence of this event to be held in Poole Park, setting a target of raising over £150K from the day.

The Mayor, displaying her usual sunny disposition despite the conditions and getting at least as wet as everybody else, gave the runners an encouraging speech and then sounded a horn to start the race, ducking quickly out of the way as hundreds of people suddenly charged straight at her.

Cllr Mrs. Judy Butt, Mayor of Poole, said "Well it was certainly wet and cold and windy, but the indomitable spirit of the people of Poole was undaunted and they came in their droves. Sitting there in my wheelchair in the rain I realised that people with cancer had a rainy day every day but because of all the wonderful people who had turned up to run for fun to raise money for treatment and research that there would always be a ray of sunshine in the distance for them to look forward to."

The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, getting very wet at the start of the Race For Life in Poole Park.

The Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, ducks hurriedly out of the way as hundreds of runners cross the start line.

Runners streaming past as the Race For Life gets under way.