8:50pm Wednesday 17th March 2010
By Dave King
WOMEN in Swindon are being invited to do something amazing by ‘going round again’ at Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life at Lydiard Park.
Organisers are giving women the opportunity to step up the challenge and double their distance to 10k by continuing round the 5k Race for Life course for a second time.
Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life 2010 is the UK’s largest women-only fundraising event series. Women of all ages and fitness levels are invited to come together to walk, jog or run 5k to raise money to help beat cancer.
The Swindon events at Lydiard Park on Saturday and Sunday, July 24 and 25, are one of only 38 Race for Life events across the UK where women will have the chance to take on a new challenge by doubling their distance to 10k.
This year Cancer Research UK is encouraging 6,300 women to enter Race for Life at Lydiard Park, Swindon. When they register they will have the option to take part in the 10k course, without having to pay an extra entry fee.
Natasha Russell, Swindon Race for Life event manager, said: “Those who take part in Race for Life often wonder if they could tackle a longer distance. This year we are giving women in Swindon a great ‘buy-one-get-one-free’ offer because they can enter Race for Life and then choose the 10k option instead of 5k.”
She added: “The new Race for Life optional 10k is an easy way to try out a 10k course without any extra commitment – apart from some additional training beforehand. Women who choose to take part in Race 10k can walk, jog or run. But by doubling their distance, they will also be doubling their fun and sense of personal achievement on the day.”
The Lydiard Park Race for Life was chosen by Cancer Research UK to trial the new optional 10k route because the venue is capable of accommodating a single lap 10K course and the charity enjoys exceptionally strong support from the local community.
Cancer Research UK funds world-class research and clinical trials throughout the South West. For example, in Swindon, people with a type of leukaemia can take part in a study to find the most effective treatment for the disease. This important trial will test several new drugs in combination with the usual chemotherapy. Clinical trials like this are vital so that we can find new and better ways to treat cancer and help save more lives in the future.
Natasha Russell said: “In the 1960s, fewer than three out of 10 children diagnosed with cancer were successfully treated. Now, it is more than seven out of 10.
“Today, more than 95 per cent of men diagnosed with testicular cancer are cured and more women are surviving breast cancer than ever before. But we still have a long way to go. Despite improvements in treatment, cancer causes one in four of all deaths in the UK.
“With the help of Swindon women, and those who encourage and sponsor their Race for Life efforts, we want to change that. Cancer Research UK believes that research is the key to developing better ways of preventing, detecting and treating cancer.”
Enter at www.race forlife.org or by calling 0871 641 1111.
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