Haydock Park

RACE FOR LIFE 2010
Thu 21st Jan 10 - 12:17

WOMEN UNITE TO BEAT CANCER WITH RACE FOR LIFE 2010

Women are being urged to enter Cancer Research UK's Race for Life and share amazing moments as they become part of the biggest female-only team in the UK.

A team of ladies and Harriet the horse from Haydock Park Racecourse are encouraging them to recruit their friends, family and colleagues now that entry to the Haydock Park event is officially open.

Race for Life is the UK's largest women-only fundraising event series where all the money raised goes to fund Cancer Research UK's life-saving work.

This year Race for Life Haydock Park takes place on Sunday 25th July  at 11.00am at Haydock Park Racecourse.

 2010 will be the first year that Race for Life is taking place at Haydock Park Racecourse. 

Dickon White Managing Director of Haydock Park commented "We are very much looking forward to welcoming Race for Life to Haydock Park Racecourse in summer 2010.  We are delighted to be able to work with Cancer Research UK and play our part in supporting their life-saving work"

In 2010, organisers are encouraging 2000 women to put their best feet forward and raise £97,580.

Race for Life 2010 is going to be full of amazing moments for everyone as women of all ages and fitness abilities join together to walk, jog or run 5k to help beat cancer.

All women are welcome, regardless of whether they are taking part on their own or as part of a group.

Every day, around 96 people are diagnosed with cancer in the North West. Race for Life started in 1994. At the time, many people diagnosed with cancer did not survive.  But over the last 16 years, money generated by Race for Life has supported Cancer Research UK's work and now the overall death rate for the disease has dropped by 15 per cent.

Hannah Thomas, Cancer Research UK's North West Event Manager, said: "This year Cancer Research UK's Race for Life is going to be full of amazing moments for everyone - from lining up at the start, side-by-side with thousands of other women, to reading the inspirational 'back-signs' worn by participants to the fantastic sense of achievement from crossing the finish line."

She added: "Women of all ages, abilities, shapes and sizes take part take part in Race for Life. They motivate and inspire each other to complete the 5k course.  Many simply walk round, chatting and having fun but they all share the wonderful atmosphere at the event."

Haydock Park participants will be part of a total of 700,000 women taking part in over 230 events across the UK between May and July.  Cancer Research UK hopes that together they will raise a total of £60 million to fund the charity's life saving work.

Hannah Thomas continued: "One-in-three people in the UK will be diagnosed with cancer at some stage in their lives.  But the good news is that more people are beating the disease than ever before.  Cancer Research UK's work is at the heart of that progress. By helping to raise money through Race for Life, our supporters are turning hope into reality."

Cancer Research UK supports the work of scientists, doctors and nurses who are dedicated to curing cancer by understanding its causes and investigating how best to prevent, diagnose and treat it.

Cancer Research UK spent over £19.5 million in the North West last year on a wide range of research into children's and adult cancers.  Much of this funding goes towards the pioneering work of the doctors and scientists at the Paterson Institute for Cancer Research.

Women can enter Cancer Research UK's Race for Life at www.raceforlife.org or by calling 0871 641 1111.

For press enquiries please contact Hannah Thomas, Area Event Manager, on 07918 720 638. Hannah.thomas@cancer.org.uk

About Race for Life

• Cancer Research UK's Race for Life 2010 is the UK's largest women only fundraising series where thousands of women all round the UK come together to share amazing moments and simply walk, jog or run 5k to raise money to help beat cancer.

• Entry fee is £12.99 to cover organisational and administration costs of the series.

• There are over 230 Race for Life events around the UK from May to the end of July.

• Cancer Research UK hopes that over 700,000 women will come together to raise over £60 million to fund Cancer Research UK's life-saving work.

• Race for Life started in 1994 and is celebrating its 16th birthday this year. The first event took place at Battersea Park with 680 participants.

• Since Race for Life began in 1994, an incredible 4.7 million participants across the UK raised over £327 million to fund Cancer Research UK's life-saving work.

• Cancer Research UK's Race for Life 2010 is supported by the following Official Partners, Tesco, NIVEA, Diamond car insurance and Go-Ahead.

About Cancer Research UK

• Cancer Research UK is the world's leading charity dedicated to beating cancer through research.
• The charity's groundbreaking work into the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cancer has helped save millions of lives.  This work is funded entirely by the public.
• Cancer Research UK has been at the heart of the progress that has already seen survival rates double in the last thirty years.
• Cancer Research UK supports research into all aspects of cancer through the work of more than 4,800 scientists, doctors and nurses.
• Together with its partners and supporters, Cancer Research UK's vision is to beat cancer.

For further information about Cancer Research UK's work or to find out how to support the charity, please call 020 7121 6699 or visit www.cancerresearchuk.org