WOMEN in York and North Yorkshire are gearing up for the region's Race For Life.

More than 5,000 runners comprising of teams and individual women will pound the turf at Knavesmire on Wednesday.

Many will be running in memory or celebration of loved ones, and thousands of others will cheer from the sidelines.

Among them will be 30 women from Harrowell Shaftoe Solicitors - the highest number the company has had in its team to date.

Marketing executive Hannah Adams said: "About half the women in the firm will be running. We haven't had a training session yet but we're planning one before the day. Everyone's really looking forward to it."

The Evening Press will have two teams running; one from the editorial department and one from accounts.

Last year, 5,500 women raised £245,163.35 in the seventh York Race For Life

But it could have been more if everyone had returned their sponsorship money.

In 2003, only 50 per cent of the women who ran York Race For Life returned any sponsorship money.

You can help to raise money by logging on to www.raceforlife.org

Updated: 10:46 Friday, July 08, 2005