It was a special moment for Amy-Lee MacDonald, as she was chosen to ring the bell to start the race in which almost 1500 runners took on 5K and 10K courses to raise vital funds to beat cancer.

Amy-Lee, who celebrated her birthday on 5 June, was joined in the race by family members and her beloved dog Luna. She crossed the finish line cheered on by her mum Kirsty MacDonald and race event host and local radio breakfast presenter Lauren Mitchell.

Amy-Lee said: “It’s been an amazing experience and an honour to be part of something so special. It’s so important to keep raising money to beat cancer. I couldn’t be prouder to be part of the Race For Life.”

Amy-Lee’s mum Kirsty added: “It’s been amazing to be here at Race For Life Aberdeen where we hope our experience will give others hope and inspire them to keep raising money. It’s thanks to research that treatments are getting better and kinder.”

Linda Summerhayes, Cancer Research UK’s spokeswoman in Scotland, told runABC Scotland online: “Our Race for Life events are fun, colourful, emotional and uplifting. They help people with cancer by raising money for research, including clinical trials which give patients across Scotland access to the latest treatments.

"You don’t have to be sporty to take part. You don’t need to train or compete against anyone else. All you need to do is go to the Race for Life website, pick an event, sign up and then have fun raising money in whatever way you like.

"It’s not about breaking records, it’s about beating cancer."

Image: courtesy Cancer Research UK