DETERMINED SUPPORTERS VOW TO RACE FOR LIFE AT HOME

Determined fundraisers across Cheshire are set to Race for Life at Home and carry on the fight against cancer as the nation looks beyond lockdown. 

Organisers Cancer Research UK have postponed events for the spring and early summer to protect people’s health as the country emerges from the COVID-19 pandemic and this includes the Race for Life 3K, 5K, 10K and Pretty Muddy events which had been due to take place at Tatton Park in Knutsford this June.

COVID-19 has caused a devastating loss of research funding. Cancer Research UK is predicting a staggering £300 million drop in income over the next three years which could put future medical breakthroughs at risk.   

Now, undeterred women and men are vowing to raise funds by completing their own Race for Life 5K in their nearest green space this April. They plan to take part outdoors either alone or in small, socially distanced groups to help people with cancer. People can visit raceforlife.org to enter Race for Life at Home for £5* then receive a Race pack which includes a medal.   

Anna Taylor, Cancer Research UK’s spokesperson for Cheshire, said: “Even whilst we’re still apart, we can unite against cancer.  

“There are a million reasons to Race for Life at Home, to help save lives, for those who have had vital treatment delayed or just for a reason to get off the sofa. We want people to run, walk or jog 5K and raise money for life-saving research.  

“The truth is, COVID-19 has slowed us down.  But we will never stop and we are absolutely determined to continue to create better cancer treatments for tomorrow. But we can’t do it alone. Sadly, cancer touches almost every family at some point. Every step our scientists take towards beating cancer relies on our supporters. That’s why we need as many people as possible across Cheshire to join us, to stand united and do something extraordinary to help beat cancer.”   

Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life, which has been in partnership with Tesco for 20 years, is an inspiring series of 3K, 5K, 10K, Pretty Muddy and Pretty Muddy Kids event which raise millions of pounds every year to help beat cancer by funding crucial research. Money raised through Race for Life events funds world-class research to help beat 200 types of cancer- including bowel cancer, prostate cancer, lung cancer, testicular cancer, brain cancer, children’s cancers and leukaemia.  

A live broadcast on the Cancer Research UK Race for Life Facebook and Race for Life Instagram pages on Saturday April 24^th will include an energiser from a fitness expert as well as inspirational messages of support from people who have been through cancer. Participants are then invited to run, walk or jog 5K. Organisers are also inviting participants to share photos and videos on social media using the hashtag #RaceatHome 

Every year over 40,000 people are diagnosed with cancer in the North West** and one in two people in the UK born after 1960 will get cancer in their lifetime.*** But the good news is more people are surviving the disease now than ever before. Cancer survival in the UK has doubled since the early 1970s and Cancer Research UK’s work has been at the heart of that progress.  

Anna added: “We’re constantly monitoring the COVID-19 situation and are working hard to move our mass participation Race for Life events to the autumn and to make sure they can go ahead safely and with all necessary COVID-19 guidelines in place.****  

“We’d love to invite as many people as possible to Race for Life at Home this spring, then physically come together in the autumn to join us for Race for Life at Tatton Park.” 

The Race for Life 3K, 5K, 10K and Pretty Muddy Events have been rescheduled for this autumn and are now due to take place at Tatton Park, Knutsford on Saturday 2 and Sunday 3 October. 

Sign up to Race for Life at Home this April and visit raceforlife.org or call 0300 123 0770. Join in and share with #RaceatHome 

 * The £5 Race for Life at Home entry fee covers the cost of posting out a fundraising pack and medal. Money raised by participants goes towards life- saving research.  

**Based on the average annual number of new cases of cancer combined excluding non-melanoma skin cancer (ICD10 C00-C97 excl. C44) diagnosed in the North West between 2015-2017 Source: These data were extracted from the Public Health England’s Cancer Analysis System, snapshot CAS1902. Accessed 23/09/2020. This work is only possible because of data from the cancer registry, which is routinely collected by the NHS as part of patient care.     

***  Based on Ahmad AS, Ormiston-Smith N, Sasieni PD. Trends in the lifetime risk of developing cancer in Great Britain: Comparison of risk for those born in 1930 to 1960.  Br J Cancer 2015;bjc.2014:606.     

****Participants who have signed up to a May, June or July 2021 Race for Life event will be notified. Event places will be automatically transferred to the rescheduled events this autumn unless participants get in touch to say they’re no longer able to attend. In these circumstances, participants can either ask for a refund of their entry fee or choose to donate the fee to help fund Cancer Research UK’s life-saving work.     

About Race for Life   

• Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life, in partnership with Tesco, is an inspiring series of 3k,5k, 10k, Pretty Muddy and Pretty Muddy Kids events which raise millions of pounds every year to help defeat cancer by funding life-saving research.   

·          This year is the 20^th anniversary of Cancer Research UK’s partnership with Tesco.   

About Cancer Research UK   

• Cancer Research UK is the world’s leading cancer charity dedicated to saving lives through research.   
• Cancer Research UK’s pioneering work into the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cancer has helped save millions of lives.   
• Cancer Research UK has been at the heart of the progress that has already seen survival in the UK double in the last 40 years.   
• Today, 2 in 4 people survive their cancer for at least 10 years. Cancer Research UK’s ambition is to accelerate progress so that by 2034, 3 in 4 people will survive their cancer for at least 10 years.   
• Cancer Research UK supports research into all aspects of cancer through the work of over 4,000 scientists, doctors and nurses.   
• Together with its partners and supporters, Cancer Research UK's vision is to bring forward the day when all cancers are cured.   

For further information about Cancer Research UK's work or to find out how to support the charity, please call 0300 123 1022 or visit www.cancerresearchuk.org. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.   

About Tesco  

·                     Tesco is celebrating its 20^th year of partnership with Race for Life.  

·                     Over 20,000 of Tesco colleagues take part each year.  

·                     Tesco colleagues and customers have raised millions for Cancer Research UK  

·                     More than 340,000 colleagues have taken part in Race for Life since 2002  

·                     Tesco pays the entry fee for all colleagues wishing to enter a Race for Life event.  

·                     You can read more at www.tescoplc.com

Pictured - Cancer scientist Dr Saadia Karim who is backing Race for Life at Home.