Olympian Denise Lewis and model Penny Lancaster were among a record-breaking turn-out of walkers who blazed a trail of pink across the Oxfordshire countryside to raise money for breast cancer care.

The famous pair were joined by 1,100 other fundraisers in pink T-shirts who set off from Blenheim Palace in Woodstock to raise thousands of pounds for the charity.

Rod Stewart’s leggy wife was about an hour late arriving at last year’s event after traffic delays, but this year was the first walker to leave the start line.

She strode out with a group of friends in memory of Maria Falco, the woman who introduced her to her husband by encouraging her to ask Rod for his autograph.

Ms Stewart, who wore a pink vest top, pink shorts and one pink leg warmer for the event, said: “I did the walk last year and I do a lot of work for Breast Cancer Care.

“A friend of ours passed away from breast cancer five or six years ago and we’re all here to remember her and help this cause raise as much funding as possible.”

Olympic gold medallist Denise Lewis walked the 10-mile course with her mum and a group of friends.

Her grandmother, Celina Hutchinson, died from the illness five years ago.

She told walkers before the race: “My grandmother was a very strong lady but she felt very alone. Even with all my attention it was difficult to know what to say to her or what to do.

“Through the support of breast cancer care I managed to be there for her and was able to reassure her and I’m sure many of you here today have had that experience. Today we can walk together in union, be proud and shake our T-shirts.”

The “Green Goddess”, Diana Moran, led the participants through a series of warm-up exercises to the echoes of the Proclaimers lyrics “... I would walk 500 miles”.

Michelle Chew, 38, from Temple Cowley, was part of a group doing the walk for a friend in her early 20s with breast cancer.

She said: “It is a brilliant cause and the weather couldn’t be better.”

Jo Dyson, challenge event manager, thanked the 100 volunteers from local villages who help put the event on.

She said: “We are very lucky to have so much support from the people of Oxfordshire.”