Equality campaigner John Taylor's Race For Life plea rejected

John Taylor, of Norton, claimed Cancer Research UK (CRUK) was not being “fair and reasonable” in making the race and other races across the UK women-only events and was also in breach of the Human Rights Act and Sex Discrimination Act.

But the Fundraising Standards Board disagreed, saying CRUK had been fair and reasonable in its efforts to provide events that catered for both men and women.

It also decided there was no breach of the requirement to comply with the law because the Equality and Human Rights Commission had told the charity that “no action was required in relation to this matter.”

Alistair McLean, board chief executive, said: “A charity must have the freedom to choose whatever fundraising activity it likes, in line with the objects of the charity and the cause that it supports, while at the same time being mindful of rules and regulations and the law of the land.”

He said this was a landmark case on FRSB’s position towards fundraising events catering for specific groups of society.

The Press has reported previously how Mr Taylor has been pressing CRUK to allow men to take part in its popular Race For Life, including the one on Knavesmire, since his eldest daughter died from cancer in 2001. He has said it would give males an opportunity to raise funds in memory of their loved ones.

He said today he still believed that CRUK was breaching Article 14 of The Human Rights Act, which gave people the right not to be discriminated against on any grounds.

He said: “Will the subject matter eventually be considered by a court of law? That remains to be seen.”

Natasha Dickinson, head of Race for Life at Cancer Research UK, said: “Our research shows that our Race for Life supporters would strongly prefer to keep Race for Life a women-only event and give them the opportunity to come together at a non-competitive event with an atmosphere of ‘sisterhood’.