Race for Life – Join in the UK’s biggest women’s fundraising series

Up to 750,000 women are expected to join in Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life, supported by Tesco, which celebrates its 13th anniversary in 2006 and opens for entries on Monday January 16th. The unique women-only 5km walk or run promises to be the biggest yet with 240 events at venues across the UK, and aims to raise £46 million for Cancer Research UK.

New for 2006, Race for Life will be holding up to 40 races events across the UK all on the same day (June 4th). This ambitious move aims to bring women together to celebrate and demonstrate the size and scale of Race for Life. It is expected that over 175,000 women will join in over the weekend, a staggering feat given that the first event began with just 680 women in 1994.

For many women Race for Life is an annual occasion while for others this will be the first time they take part in an event of this size. Some are cancer survivors while others run or walk in memory or in celebration of family, friends or loved ones, making the race experience both emotional and inspiring. There is an overwhelming sense of pride and sisterhood and a great feeling that Race for Life is personal to the many women that join together to take part.

Since it began back in 1994, two million women across the UK have taken part raising nearly £100 million to fund the charity’s pioneering work to help cure cancer faster. Celebrity support for Race for Life is strong and includes the likes of Paula Radcliffe, Nell McAndrew, Jenny Frost, Shaznay Lewis and Gloria Hunniford among others.

Race for Life continues to support Reduce the Risk for 2006, Cancer Research UK’s major cancer awareness campaign, encouraging people to take action to reduce their risk of cancer. As many women have found, Race for Life offers the perfect opportunity to start taking regular exercise and maintain a healthy body weight.

Rachel Roxburgh, Head of Race for Life, says: “Race for Life 2006 is the biggest yet and we are extremely proud that it continues to grow in popularity every year. The enthusiasm and emotion shown by women across the country creates an atmosphere on race day that is truly inspiring. We know Race for Life events hold a special place in British women’s hearts and our goal for the future is to break the one million women milestone.

Race for Life is about women pulling together to raise vital funds to cure cancer faster and is also about encouraging women to get out and exercise to reduce their own cancer risk. We are really excited that in 2006 we have expanded the series to offer more opportunities for women to enter and fundraise for Cancer Research UK”

Race for Life runs from 3 May to the end of July 2006 with 230 events across the UK. For more information or to enter Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life visit the Race for Life website or call the hotline on 08705 134 314.

ENDS

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Cancer Research UK

• Cancer Research UK’s vision is to conquer cancer through world-class research.
• The charity works alone and in partnership with others to carry out research into the biology and causes of cancer, to develop effective treatments, improve the quality of life for cancer patients, reduce the number of people getting cancer and to provide authoritative information on cancer. Cancer Research UK is the world’s leading independent charity dedicated to research on the causes, treatment and prevention of cancer.
• For further information about Cancer Research UK’s work or to find out how to support the charity, please call 020 7009 8820 or visit Our website