Hundreds of women united against cancer on Sunday by taking part in Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life Pretty Muddy at Bath Racecourse.
Nearly 1,700 women and kids of all ages, abilities, shapes and sizes showed their incredible commitment to the cause as they braved the weather and took their place at the start line to help beat cancer sooner.
One of those women was Nikki Bannister, from Warminster, who took part with the Military Wives Choir she is part of. She said: “We have several members of the choir fighting cancer and this is a fun way to get over a sad few months.”
Now organisers of the 5k Pretty Muddy event are sending a heartfelt message of thanks to everyone who took part and all their supporters.
And they’re asking them to make every step count by paying in their sponsorship money as soon as possible so that it can be used to fund life-saving research.
Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life, in partnership with Tesco, is an inspiring women-only series of 5k, 10k and Pretty Muddy events which raises millions of pounds every year to find new ways to tackle cancer.
Ruth Chamings, Cancer Research UK’s Bath Events Manager, said: “Life-saving research is being funded right now thanks to people like the women of Bath who join the fight at Race for Life.
“By taking part and raising money, our participants play a crucial role in helping to turn discoveries made in the lab into new, better treatments for patients in Bath and across the UK and we’d like to thank everyone who took part in the event on Sunday.
“The atmosphere on the day was hugely moving - full of emotion, courage, tears and laughter - as people came together despite the weather to get muddy, and remember loved ones lost to cancer or celebrate the lives of those dear to them who have survived. Race for Life offers a unique opportunity for like-minded ladies to unite against a disease that affects us all in some way.
“Now we’re asking everyone who took part, and all the friends, family and colleagues who pledged to sponsor them, to return the money they’ve raised as soon as possible. Money raised - whether it’s £10 or £100 - will help Cancer Research UK scientists find new ways to prevent, diagnose and treat the disease, helping save more lives.”
One in two people in the UK will be diagnosed with cancer at some stage in their lives, 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.
Dr Áine McCarthy, Cancer Research UK’s Senior Science Communications Officer, said: “There are over 200 types of cancer and we need continued investment in research to help us find new ways to prevent, diagnose and treat them all. That’s why we need everyone who took part in Race for Life in Bath to take the vital last step by returning their sponsorship money so that our scientists, doctors and nurses can continue to make vital strides forward in research.”
Sponsorship money can be paid online, by phone, by cheque or in person at a Cancer Research UK shop.
Story originally posted by Cancer Research Race For Life.
