Thousands of women gathered together to zumba their way to a cure for cancer.

Esther Shortt, of Allerton Road, Borehamwood, used her personal training expertise to dance a 3,000 strong pink crowd into a jogging frenzy.

She encouraged the Zumba group she runs in Barnet to take part in the annual Race for Life event in Hampstead Heath on Saturday.

Although the event presented volunteers with a soggy Saturday morning, they were still determined not to let the weather get the better of them.

She said: “It is a privilege to work alongside a cancer charity, and I have been doing this for around nine years.

“My motivation comes from my wish to find a cure for cancer, especially as I have lost seven friends to the disease.”

“I am quite close to my ladies who came and supported my work at the race.”

Her friend, Nikki Matthews, asked to take part in the event after a successful Zumbathon to raise £1,057 for Great Ormond Street Hospital.

The classes she runs outside her charity work, in St Paul’s Church, the Ridgeway, Mill Hill, have helped build a strong following.

She said: “I am quite close to my ladies who came and supported my work at the race.”

Speaking of the future, Ms Shortt added: “One day we will have a cure.”