Gazette News
'All in this together'
2:17pm Tuesday 7th February 2012
“IT’S all of us versus cancer”. That’s the rallying cry being issued to women across Basingstoke by organisers of Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life.
Entries for the annual event are now open and mums, daughters, sisters, grandmas and friends are all being urged to join forces and sign up as soon as possible.
This year’s Race for Life, in partnership with Tesco, will take start at 7.30pm at the Down Grange Sports Complex, Pack Lane, on Wednesday, June 20.
Women can choose to walk, jog or run the 5km route to raise money for Cancer Research UK, which receives no Government funding.
Lea Blake, Cancer Research UK’s North Hampshire events manager, said: “Come on ladies – please enter Race for Life in Basingstoke today. It’s all of us versus cancer and we need you to join the fight as soon as possible.”
“We know many women want to take part in Race for Life but are worried they won’t be able to complete the course. We want to reassure them that Race for Life is not about being fast or fit. Instead, it’s a celebration of sisterhood and hope.
“Most women are able to walk 5km in an hour while chatting and having fun. The really startling fact is that in the same period of time, around five people in the South East will be diagnosed with cancer.”
The event has been held on a weekend since 2007 but this year organisers are reverting back to holding it on a weekday, in the hope of attracting more corporate teams.
Lea said: “Sometimes people who work in Basingstoke are reluctant to come back during the weekend so we’re hoping that having it on a weekday again will mean that businesses will enter teams. We want as many people to get involved as possible.”
Last year, 2,846 women took part in Race for Life in Basingstoke and raised £162,894.
Lea added: “We are very grateful to everyone who took part in Race for Life in Basingstoke last year and in the past. Thanks to them Cancer Research UK has been able to fund much-needed research.
“But the battle against cancer never stops and for this reason we need them to return to the fight in 2012 and bring new recruits with them.”
To enter Race for Life, visit racefor|life.org or call 0871 641 1111.