There was dancing in the aisles at Cabot Circus as the shopping centre hosted the launch of this year's Race for Life.

Shop assistants in pink T-shirts joined cancer survivors and staff from Cancer Research UK for an early warm-up session to get the 2009 event under way.

The launch was hosted by GWR radio presenters Bush, Troy and Paulina, and shoppers broke off from their bargain-hunting to watch as a team of aerobics instructors put the group through their paces.

Many joined in, laughing as they danced to songs from Abba and Shakira.

But a string of pink memorial messages served as a poignant reminder as to why the event takes place every year.

Chris Paraskeva, professor of experimental oncology at the University of Bristol, took to the stage to explain why the 5km fundraising run, which last year attracted 13,000 women in Bristol, is so important.

Prof Paraskeva, who is an expert in bowel cancer research, said: "Cancer Research UK funds us to the tune of £1 million, but we always need more money, particularly this year with the recession.

"The funding we receive helps us increase the basic understanding of what cancer is, and to develop new treatments, clinical trials, and take research from the lab to the clinic.

"Race for Life is an amazing, fantastic event, and we want people to turn up and raise money, but also to enjoy themselves.

"Nearly all cancer research in the UK is funded by charities, so events like this are critical."

Every day 80 people across the South West are diagnosed with the disease.

But since the Race for Life series started 16 years ago, the death rate from cancer has dropped by 15 per cent.

Prof Paraskeva said: "In the 1960s, less than three out of 10 children diagnosed with cancer were successfully treated. Now it's seven out of 10. But we still have a long way to go. Despite improvements in treatment, one in four people in the UK will die from cancer.

"With the help of South West women, and those who encourage and sponsor their Race for Life efforts, we want to change that."

Last year 13,000 women took part in Bristol's Race for Life, raising £676,000.

Organisers hope to attract another 1,000 women, girls and grandmothers to the starting post, and beat last year's total fund.

Among those planning to take part are Marie Hill, 36, and her daughters Elsie, 13, and Ada, 10, and Michaela Willcox, 42, and her daughter Abi, 13.

While the girls were dancing away to the music, Mrs Hill, a school nurse assistant from Brislington, said: "I do the race every year in Bristol, and have just sent a text out to all my friends to get them to sign up.

"We are going to actually run it for the first time ever this year, rather than walking, and have just joined a gym to try and get fit.

"We do it because it is nice to do something for charity once a year.

"Neither of us or our immediate families have been touched by cancer, but like everyone else we know people who have had it.

"The children are doing it, my mum and her best friend too, and last year we did it in a big group of about 15 of us. It is just a great event and a lush atmosphere."

Ms Willcox, a children's centre deputy head, from Brislington, said: "It is great to do because it is so well known people are happy to sponsor you and give money."

This year's Race for Life takes place on June 13 and 14 on Durdham Downs.