SPRING is in the air and as the days get longer, women in Swindon are being urged to step forward and enter Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life.

Some women in the town have even joined the Lydiard Park Run to help them prepare to jog or run the events.

Signing up for Race for Life is the ideal way for women of all ages and fitness to motivate themselves to become more active as they get ready to walk, jog or run the 5k route.

Kelly Rumble, Swindon event manager for Race for Life, said: “Please enter Race for Life in Swindon today. Every two minutes someone in the UK is told they have cancer.

“100 per cent of sponsorship raised helps beat over 200 types of cancer affecting men, women and children.

“The battle against cancer never stops so we need you to sign up now and start raising money for ground-breaking research to help save more lives.”

Race for Life in Swindon takes place at Lydiard Park on Saturday and Sunday, June 9 and 10. Last year, 4,432 women took part in Swindon and raised £254,950.

This year, organisers want 4,300 women and girls to put their best foot forward for the 5k events and help raise £228,406 for vital research.

To help women get ready for the Swindon events, there are free training plans designed for walkers, joggers or runners on the Race for Life website or you can join a local group like Lydiard Park Run.

Emma Sperring has been organising the weekly Park Run at Lydiard Park since March 2010 and the event takes place on Saturdays at 9am.

Emma said: “Park Run is free and perfect to help ladies train for Race for Life.

“People of all abilities are welcome and can walk, jog or run around the beautiful venue in their own time, along with prams, dogs and children that want to do it too.”

Kelly said: “We know many women want to take part in Race for Life but are worried about completing the 5k course. “All women are invited and they can choose whether to walk, jog or run.

“Most women can walk 5k in an hour while chatting and having fun. And in that same period of time, around three people will be diagnosed with cancer in the South West. “If you think of it in those terms, taking part in Race for Life is a remarkable opportunity to change the lives and future of people with the disease.”

To enter Race for Life visit www.raceforlife.org or call 0871 641 1111.

To register for Park Run, please visit the website at www.parkrun.org.uk/swindon/home