THE RACE FOR LIFE 2006

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Now in its thirteenth year, Race For Life is the largest women only fundraising event in the UK. This year, for the first time ever, 4th June 2006 will see the launch of One Big Day, with 25 races taking place simultaneously across the country (see list below).

Each Race For Life event covers a distance of 5k, encouraging women of all ages and levels of fitness to participate. Race For Life 2006 looks set to break all records with in excess of 750,000 women expected to join forces to raise £46 million for Cancer Research UK.

HISTORY

Cancer Research UK’s 'Race for Life 'began in 1994, with one race in Battersea Park: 680 women came together and raised £36,000 in sponsorship.

Twelve years on, Race for Life has grown to become the UK’s biggest women only fundraising event. We have raised over a £100 million for Cancer Research UK and welcomed over 2 million women to our events.

This year we hope to raise £46 million by bringing 750,000 women together, all raising sponsorship to support the life-saving work of Cancer Research UK. Please enter today and help us to reach our fundraising target!

Fundraising events like Race for Life are vitally important to Cancer Research UK as they enable us to continue our life-saving work.

Cancer Research UK  is the world’s leading independent organisation dedicated to cancer research, with a team of over 3,000 scientists, doctors and nurses.

We are committed to curing cancer faster by understanding its causes and investigating how best to prevent, diagnose and treat the disease. We also fund research aimed at improving the quality of life for cancer patients and providing the best possible support to patients and their families.

Cancer Research UK is the major supporter of breast cancer research in the UK, with an annual spend of over £20 million.  The charity also funds research into many other types of cancer that touch women’s lives.

Cancer Research UK relies overwhelmingly on donations from people like you.

For free information about cancer and its treatment, please visit our patient information website, CancerHelp UK.

Race for life - Nell McAndrew

ABERYSTWYTH

On Sunday 7 May 2006, a total of 1,200 women took part in the fifth Race for Life to be held on Aberystwyth promenade. The event raised £86,000 for Cancer Research UK in 2005. From the pre-race warm-up to the final finish line, we've got dozens of photos featuring runners, walks, groups and individuals. We'll be publishing more images over the coming days but if you'd like to add a picture of your own, please email us at wales.mid@bbc.co.uk.

STAFFORDSHIRE

Race For Life 2006 took place in Trentham Gardens, with 5000 women and children taking part.  Five thousand women and children gathered together at Trentham Gardens in Stoke on Trent to raise money for charity.

The races that took place as part of One Big Day:

Race for Life Training Guide

Congratulations, if you're one of 750,000 women who'll be walking, jogging or running in a Race for Life event in any year to help raise £ millions for Cancer Research UK.

Whether you walk or run or plan to do a bit of both, a training programme - even a very basic one - makes a huge difference. If you don't have one, there's a tried and trusted selection for walkers and runners of every speed. Unless you have serious health issues, we'll assume that you'll want to build up to jogging at least some of the way on race day.

• I've never run before
  The best way to start is a little jogging with walk breaks. It may feel odd, but you'll get twice as far, twice as quickly and feel a huge sense of achievement as you progress. More than half of the women in your Race for Life event will continue the run/walk routine right through to race day. Our beginner and intermediate programmes, below, all include walk breaks.

• What equipment do I need?
  All you need is a properly fitted pair of shoes, a sports bra and some clothing that makes you feel good.

• What should I eat?
  Just a good all-round diet, with plenty of fluids and a slight emphasis on low-GI carbohydrate. Aim to eat 50-60% of your calories from carbohydrate, 20-25% from protein and 20-25% from fat. Only half-marathon runners need go wild with pasta. 

• Will I lose weight?
  Nothing (except cross-country skiing) burns more calories per minute than running. But don't forget to eat and drink enough to exercise at your best in the first place. You'll still win out. 

Race for life - Edinburgh start line

Need advice? Want to share a story? Or just fancy eavesdropping on hundreds of messages of running chat every day? Why not sign up as a free website member and drop into our friendly forums? They're easy to get the hang of. 

I feel self-conscious

Whatever shape or size you are, the very fact that you are out there, getting fitter and raising money for Cancer Research UK means you have plenty to be proud of. More likely than not, anyone who looks at you when you're training is envious of your get-up-and-go. Whether you're in the gym or in the park, hold your head up high.

I'm behind with my schdule

Don't panic! Hardly anyone gets through a whole six weeks without missing or trimming a single session. If you only have time to run for half the time scheduled, do that half. If you fall behind, don't try to accelerate through the programme: instead, repeat the earlier, easier sessions and gradually increase the time on your feet. If time is really short, you could switch to the 3-week blitz schedule,

LINKS

Buy merchandise

Donate

Raise money

About Race for Life

About Cancer Research UK

Who takes part?

About our other events

Your questions answered

RACE FOR LIFE  2006 CORPORATE SPONSORS

It is only through the generous support of these partners that Cancer Research UK is able to run cost-effective events and ensure that every penny raised by participants goes directly to fund the work of Cancer Research UK.

If you would like more information about Race for Life sponsorship opportunities, please email raceforlifesponsorship@cancer.org.uk

Media enquiries

If you are a member of the media and would like to receive a copy of the Race for Life media pack, please email press@cancer.org.uk with your contact details.

References

• BBC (2004). The London Marathon 2006 - How to run in it.

• http://www.london-marathon.co.uk/

• http://www.london-marathon.info/

• realbuzz.com - Running, health and fitness site, also creators of the Flora London Marathon website

  • realbuzz.com Flora London Marathon chat forum

• Runner's World (UK) website

  • Runner's World (UK) discussion forums

• Guide to entering the London Marathon

• RunnersForum.co.uk London Marathon Page

  • RunnersForum.co.uk running discussion

• Fundraising service for London Marathon runners to build online sponsorship pages The London Marathon is the UK's single biggest one day charity fundraiser. Over £31 million pounds was raised for charity in 2002.

• Get Kids Going - Run the London Marathon for disabled children - Tanni Grey Thompson is their patron

• Amnesty International needs your support

• Cancer Research UK needs your support

• IAAF International Association of Athletic Federations

• Hyponatremia among Runners in the Boston Marathon by Christopher S.D. Almond, M.D., M.P.H., Andrew Y. Shin, M.D., Elizabeth B. Fortescue, M.D., Rebekah C. Mannix, M.D., David Wypij, Ph.D., Bryce A. Binstadt, M.D., Ph.D., Christine N. Duncan, M.D., David P. Olson, M.D., Ph.D., Ann E. Salerno, M.D., Jane W. Newburger, M.D., M.P.H., and David S. Greenes, M.D.

• American Family Physician: Sudden death in young athletes: screening for the needle in a haystack among other statistics, this reference link mentions the estimate that there is approximately 1 fatality per every 50000 people finishing a marathon.

• Marathon World

• Marathon Guide

• Runner's World (UK)

• Runner's World (USA)

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