Spread the word

HUNT out that little black address book, call up your group email list... or just invite all your girlfriends out for a drink. Why? Well, the Race For Life is just seven weeks away and the Knavesmire event needs you... and as many of your mates as you can muster.

Race For Life - the woman-only five kilometre (three-mile) run or walk in aid of Cancer Research UK - is now in its tenth year and to mark this anniversary there will be ten special Celebration Races planned across the country this summer alongside more than 120 standard races.

York has been chosen to host one of the extra-large (in terms of women taking part) Celebration Races - and has been set a target to recruit 10,000 women.

That's some feat, considering around 4,000 women took part last year, and 3,000 the year before. But the organisers believe women in York can rise to the challenge. After all, just 348 took part in the first York Race For Life six years ago.

Janet Cooper, organiser for the York Race For Life, says: "Last year, 4,154 women took part in York and raised £246,000. This year, we are aiming for 10,000 to raise £300,000.

"Race For Life is all about getting together with other women, so why not encourage friends to join you? You can plan and exercise together."

The York race, which is officially supported by the Evening Press, is on Sunday, May 11 at 11am, but the lead-up to Race For Life starts now. Whether you choose to run, jog, walk - or even a combination of all three punctuated by the odd splutter - it's advisable to put in a bit of training before the big day.

A selection of gyms across the city are offering free training sessions to women taking part in Race For Life - providing the ideal opportunity to socialise and get fit with your friends.

The benefits of doing Race For Life are many: you get fit, raise money for a good cause and have a fantastic day out - and organisers are hoping women who have taken part before will spread the word and encourage more people to enrol for this year.

One woman doing just that is Lorraine Murphy, who works at City of York Council. Last year about 100 women from the council took part in Race For Life and this year Lorraine's aim is to enlist at least another 50.

She says: "I did Race For Life at the Knavesmire last year and it was absolutely fantastic. It's brilliant fun, but also a day of remembrance for people who have died of cancer or who have overcome it."

Some of the tactics Lorraine is using to spread the word among council staff include sending messages on the email service, putting notices in the office newsletter and there's even a reminder about Race For Life which goes out on pay slips.

She added: "My family has been affected by cancer, so it's something close to my heart and why I decided to get involved. It's such a good way to raise money for research and save lives."

In its ten years, Race For Life has raised more than £35 million. Organisers are aiming high this year and have set a fundraising target of £17.5 million.

Dr Lesley Walker, of Cancer Research UK, says: "One in three people in the UK will get cancer at some point in their lifetime and one in four will die from the disease.

"The only thing that will improve these figures is research. By taking part in Race For Life, women everywhere will be actively contributing to advances that will save lives."

Already, advances have been made in fighting cancer. Breast cancer death rates have dropped by more than one fifth during the past ten years, largely due to screening and improved treatment based on the latest research. Over the same period, cases of cervical cancer are down by more than a third and fatalities almost halved. Deaths from bowel cancer have fallen by a quarter and the survival rates of childhood cancer have soared to 70 per cent.

Dr Walker says: "We are very encouraged by these successes. It proves the work we are involved in is already reaping benefits."

Women taking part in Race For Life are asked to bear in mind the entry fee solely covers the costs of setting up the event. The only money which goes to cancer research is what is raised in sponsorship. One way to make more from your sponsorship money is to ensure your sponsors tick the Gift Aid Box and give their full name, address and postcode, which allows the charity to claim from the Government an extra 28 per cent of the money pledged. Last year, such a tax break added a further £1.5 million to the Race For Life total.

The easiest way to enrol is online, via the website: www.raceforlife.org or via main sponsors Tesco's website: www.tesco.com

There is also a hotline telephone number: 08705 134 314.

Entry costs £7.50 for women and £4.50 for girls under 18. You can enter as an individual or as a team. More details on the website.

This year's T-shirts, in lilac with the Race For Life logo plus the 10th Anniversary marker, cost £12.50.

For the first time, there is also a baseball hat on sale, with the motif "Survivor" embroidered on the front for £7.50.

Organisers promise that problems last year with enrolling and the sizing of T-shirts have been sorted. And they have made it easier for teams to enter.

And for any men feeling left out, Cancer Research UK is organising a series of Cycle For Life events, open to all the family.

The York event is planned for Sunday July 6 and involves a 15-mile (about two-hour) cycle. For more details visit the website www.cancerresearchuk.org/cycle or telephone 0870 161 1010.

Tell us your stories...

Why are you taking part in Race For Life? Can you put together a team to rival the City of York Council one? Tell us your stories. The reader who sends in our favourite story will win the chance to wear the 2003 race number at the York Knavesmire race.

Contact: Maxine Gordon, Features, Evening Press, 76-86 Walmgate, York, YO1 9YN, tel 01904 653051 or email: maxine.gordon@ycp.co.uk

Updated: 09:33 Monday, March 24, 2003