Fundraisers across the area are being encouraged to Race for Life at Home and carry on the fight against cancer as the country begins to look beyond lockdown.
Cancer scientist Dr Saadia Karim who is backing the Race for Life at Home event | Photo © Cancer Research UK
Organisers Cancer Research UK have postponed events for the spring and early summer to continue protecting people’s health as the country emerges from the COVID-19 pandemic, including the Race for Life 3K and 5K events.
COVID-19 has caused a devastating loss of research funding, with Cancer Research UK predicting a £300 million drop in income over the next three years which could put future medical breakthroughs at risk.
Undeterred women and men are now 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.
Alison Birkett, Cancer Research UK’s spokesperson for the south west 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 to join us, to stand united and do something extraordinary to help beat cancer.”
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 24th April 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 around 34,800 people are diagnosed with cancer in the South West, and one in two people in the UK born after 1960 will get cancer in their lifetime.
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.
Alison Birkett 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.”
