HUNDREDS of pink fundraisers stepped out to remember those affected by breast cancer and raise money in their names.

Breast Cancer Care’s sponsored 10 and 20 mile Pink Ribbonwalks were held at Blenheim Palace for the seventh time on Saturday.

With each of the 854 walkers aiming to raise at least £175 – and many a lot more – organisers hope to have raised more than £250,000.

Vikki Forrester, 25, from Didcot, did the 10-mile walk with her dog Winston for mum Denise Paterson, 47.

Mrs Forrester said: “When you see your loved ones go through what they are going through you feel a bit helpless. So when events like this come along you can help support your loved ones in some way.”

Joy Kellaway, 53, from Watlington, did the walk with sisters Pam and Chrissy as their sister Ann has the disease.

They hoped to raise more than £1,200.

Joy said: “We have had such fantastic support from Breast Cancer Care that we wanted to give something back and help get everybody else who suffers to get the same chances and help we have had.”

Mother and daughter team Camilla, 56, and Clare Hanchet, 23, from Oxford, took part in memory of friend Beverley Fenwick, 55, who died last year.

Before the walk Clare said: “It is going to bring back a lot of memories of her. It’s just nice to have the opportunity to do something like this.”

Charity ambassador, TV star Denise Van Outen, took part for the second year running after losing her grandmother to the disease.

She said: “When you lose someone to walk in their name is a nice thing as it keeps their memory alive. This is a time to reflect and remember.

“And people find a sense of comfort in doing the walk together.”

Heptathlon Olympic gold medal winner Denise Lewis, who is an ambassador too, also lost her grandmother to the disease.

She said: “Many people here have lost someone or know someone affected. It’s a chance to walk in solidarity and raise money. And also to enjoy and celebrate life and the memories of so many people who are near and dear to us.”

The walkers were also joined by former Sugababe Siobhan Donaghy.

Pink Ribbonwalk manager Lucy Thomson added: “We want to say a huge thank you to everyone, from our volunteers to our walkers, for supporting us in this fantastic event.”

Last year more than 1,000 people participated in the Pink Ribbonwalks.