25 VENUES IN 25 HOURS CHALLENGE TO CELEBRATE 25 YEARS OF RACE FOR LIFE

20th March 2018

CANCER Research UK’s Race for Life team is celebrating quarter of a century of the popular fundraiser by aiming to visit  all 25 race locations in the North West and North Wales – including Blackburn - in 25 hours.

Race for Life started as one event in 1994 at London’s Battersea Park with 680 participants and since then more than nine million women have taken part, raising over £820million to fund Cancer
Research UK’s vital work. Race for Life in Blackburn first started in 1998

Every day, more than 110 people are diagnosed with cancer in the North West*.

And that’s why Cancer Research UK is calling on women all over the North West to fight back against this devastating disease by entering Race for Life 5k, 10k, Half Marathon, Pretty Muddy or Hike.

Starting at Coniston, Cumbria, at 05:00am on Wednesday 21 March, the team will travel via Lancashire , Manchester, Merseyside and Cheshire and hopes to finish the journey in Caernarfon in the early hours of Thursday morning, after visiting many North West locations including: Penrith, Wigan, Wirral, Preston, Wrexham and Oldham along the way.

Sarah Hunter, Cancer Research UK’s North West Event Manager, said: “We’re really excited about the challenge and we can’t wait to showcase all our amazing venues.

“We hope we can persuade as many women to sign up to Race for Life as possible.

“Race for Life events are non-competitive and participants can choose to walk, jog or run around the course. Whether they’re planning a 5k stroll, a 10k sprint or a muddy splash around the Pretty Muddy course, every step women take will help to support life-saving research.”

Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life, is an inspiring women-only series of 5k, 10k and Pretty Muddy events which raise millions of pounds every year to help beat cancer sooner by funding life-saving research.

Cancer survival rates have doubled since the 1970s and Cancer Research UK’s work has been at the heart of that progress. But more funds and more supporters are needed to bring forward the day when all cancers are cured.

Thanks to the generosity of its supporters, the charity was able to spend over £28 million last year in the North West on some of the UK’s leading scientific and clinical research - helping more men, women and children survive.

Sarah added: “Pledging to take part in Race for Life is a great incentive for women to pull on their trainers and join thousands of ladies across the UK who are coming together in the fight against cancer. Money raised is helping to drive research to help beat over 200 different types of cancer - so every person, step and penny raised makes a real difference.

“People can follow our journey on twitter using #RaceforLife25in25, and tell as many people as possible about our challenge.’’

The team hopes to arrive at Witton Park the Race for Life venue in Blackburn at approximately 10:00am.

To enter Race for Life today go to raceforlife.org or call 0300 123 0770.