Cancer Research urges shoppers at Northampton retail centre to sign up for Race For Life

They are urging mums, daughters, sisters and friends to choose a Race for Life 5k, 10k or Pretty Muddy event and make it their mission to take part at Abington Park on June 4 and 5.

And to help swell the ranks, a team of volunteers and events managers will be rallying the troops at the charity’s Race for Life ‘Battle HQ’ at the Weston Favell Shopping Centre on Saturday, March 19 from 10am.

Capturing the power and passion of Race for Life, Battle HQ will give shoppers a chance to get ‘made up to fight’ with hot pink lipstick, bright nail varnish and bandanas.

As well as the chance to get ‘battle ready’, shoppers can capture their own picture of defiance in the specially-designed Battle HQ ‘selfie station’.

Organisers hope the Battle HQ will stop Northampton shoppers in their tracks and motivate local women to sign up to Race for Life.

Simon Burley, Race for Life event manager in Northampton, said: “We’re so excited to bring our Battle HQ event to Northampton. It’s a chance for women across the town to experience the fun and excitement of Race for Life and to find out what’s in store at our Northampton events in June.

“We want this year’s Race for Life to be our biggest and best yet, so we’re calling on women of all ages, shapes and sizes to sign up and join the charge. It’s time to form a pink platoon of feisty, go-getting girls and show cancer who’s boss.”

Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life, in partnership with Tesco for the past 15 years, is an inspiring women-only series of 5k, 10k, and Pretty Muddy events which raises millions of pounds every year to help beat 200 different types of cancer.

Last year, 4178 women in Northampton pulled on their trainers and helped raise £245,915 for life-saving research. This year, organisers need 6,300 women and girls to rally together to help raise £360,000 to help save more lives.

Simon continued: “Every hour, around three people are diagnosed with cancer in the East Midlands*. That’s why we’re calling on women in Northampton to sign up and stand shoulder-to-shoulder in the fight against this devastating disease.

“It doesn’t matter how fit or fast you are because Race for Life is not competitive. It’s the chance to be part of a fun-loving and fearless army of women who are motivated to help raise money for 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. Thanks to advances in research, more people in Northampton are surviving cancer than ever before.

But to help even more people survive, Cancer Research UK needs everyone in Northampton to act right now.

Simon added: “Race for Life is a unique, moving and inspirational event and we’re calling on local women to join the fight and meet us at the starting line. With fire in their bellies and trainers at the ready, we know that the brave ladies of Northampton are ready take on the challenge and help beat cancer sooner.”

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