Race For Life runners...appeal for your sponsorship money from Northampton event

Northampton’s Abington Park became a sea of pink in the summer as thousands of women joined together at Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life.

Over 5,000 mums, grans, daughters, sisters, aunts, workmates and friends united with one mission in mind – to beat cancer sooner.

Organisers of the 5k 10k and Pretty Muddy events are sending a heart-felt message of thanks to everyone who took part and all their supporters.

Now Cancer Research UK is calling on everyone who took part to make their Race for Life count by returning their sponsorship money as soon as possible to help beat cancer sooner.

Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life, in partnership with Tesco for the last 15 years, is an inspiring women-only series of 5k, 10k and Pretty Muddy, Marathon and Hiking events.

Last year, Race for Life in Northampton raised an incredible £245,915 for Cancer Research UK. This year, the charity hopes the 5,000 who have entered will collectively hit a fundraising target of £325,000.

Simon Burley, Race for Life event manager for Northampton, said: “We are so greatful to everyone who took part in Race for Life, and their supporters, as well as our heroic volunteers.

“It was a fantastic day, full of emotion, courage, tears and laughter as thousands of women joined forces to conquer cancer.

“Now I’m asking everyone who took part - and all the friends, family and colleagues who pledged to sponsor them - to transform their passion into progress by returning the money they’ve raised as soon as possible. We’re encouraging all the heroic ladies who took park to show off their pictures from the day to encourage their sponsors to return what they’ve pledged.

“Many people don’t realise that their entry fee only covers the cost of the event. It’s the sponsorship money that really makes a difference. So, whatever the amount, we’re asking everyone to make every effort to return their sponsorship money as soon as possible. It can be paid in online, by phone, by cheque or in person at a Cancer Research UK shop.”

One in two people will get cancer at some point in their lives. But thanks to advances in research, more people are surviving than ever before.

Nell Barrie, Cancer Research UK’s senior science communication manager, said: “We want to see people with every type of cancer, including those that are hard to treat, get a good chance of living a long healthy life. The advances we've made since Race for Life started in 1994 show we are moving in the right direction.

“Our researchers are dedicated to discovering new ways to prevent, diagnose and treat cancer. They are tackling the disease on all fronts - developing personalised medicine where patients will have treatment tailored to their cancer, immunotherapy which harnesses the immune system to target the disease, better screening and tests to diagnose cancer earlier, and ways to help prevent the disease in people who are at risk.

“But each year more and more people are diagnosed with cancer, so there’s still much more to do. That’s why we need everyone who took part in Race for Life in Northampton to take the vital last step by returning their sponsorship money so that our scientists, doctors and nurses can make strides forward in research.”

For information on returning sponsorship money, or to make a donation, visit www.raceforlife.org