Race for Life events postponed - so why not take part at home?

Race for Life 5K, 10K and Pretty Muddy events across the region have now been rescheduled for the Autumn

ORGANISERS of Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life in Yorkshire have announced new dates this autumn for the much-loved event.

The charity has postponed Race for Life events across the UK to protect the country’s health during the coronavirus outbreak. This includes the Race for Life 5K, 10k and Pretty Muddy events across the Yorkshire region which can no longer take place this Summer.

But everyone across Yorkshire can once again be part of the empowering Race for Life movement and show support to the 30,500 people diagnosed with cancer every year in Yorkshire and The Humber.*

New dates have been found and all of the Race for Life 5K, 10K and Pretty Muddy and Pretty Muddy Kids events have been rescheduled for September and October, apart from the Ilkley event, which unfortunately has had to be cancelled.

Participants who had already signed up for a Race for Life event in the Summer can transfer their entry to the new Autumn date.** Entries are also open for more people to join at raceforlife.org

Emma Willis, Cancer Research UK Event Manager for Yorkshire, said: “We’re sending a heartfelt message to everyone to seize the opportunity and come join us to Race for Life in Yorkshire this Autumn at venues across the region.

“As the coronavirus outbreak continues to unfold, we are listening to the advice and guidance of the UK Government carefully.

“While our priority is ensuring that people affected by cancer get the support and information they need during unprecedented times, we’re having to work quickly to understand the impact the pandemic will have on Cancer Research UK’s fundraising.

“We have urgently reviewed our events, including Race for Life. As the safety of our supporters, volunteers, suppliers and staff across the hundreds of Race for Life events due to take place in 2020 is incredibly important we have made the decision to postpone the events scheduled in May, June and July.

“Since it began, Race for Life has raised over £890m for Cancer Research UK’s life-saving work. We’re incredibly grateful to everyone who has taken part and hope their support will continue throughout this time. We hope men, women and children will unite against cancer and make Race for Life the best yet this Autumn”.

Right now, when it feels like everything’s at a standstill, there is one thing that hasn’t stopped – cancer, so why not Race for Life at Home

As the country continues on lockdown, undeterred women and men waiting for the rearranged event dates are already vowing to carry on and complete a Race for Life challenge at home, in their garden or their nearest green space, while waiting to join the events in the Autumn. .

Nicki Embleton, Cancer Research UK’s spokesperson for Yorkshire, said: “Our priority as a charity is ensuring that people affected by cancer are getting the support they need right now. But we are already getting people asking about doing Race for Life at Home this summer because they don’t want to see the charity lose out on vital funding and because they feel that the fight against cancer shouldn’t stop for anything – even coronavirus. It’s truly humbling to see the response.

“So from their homes, we’d love for supporters to join us and Race for Life at Home in these challenging times. From a walk, jog or run or 5K around the garden to limbo in the living room, there is no wrong way to Race for Life at Home. With no entry fee, people might choose to twerk, limbo, star jump, squat, skip, dance, or come up with their own novel way of taking part and share it with friends. The message is very much that ‘while we might be apart, we’re doing this together’. There is no wrong way to get involved and join our community.

“Those lucky enough to have a garden may choose to make use of it but whatever people decide to do, we are immensely grateful for the support, now more than ever. We could be looking at hundreds of people in Yorkshire stepping forward to Race for Life at Home and perhaps making a donation to do so.”

“We encourage those choosing to Race for Life at Home to participate in whatever way they like – there are lots of ideas at www.raceforlife.org. We appreciate that the current situation has resulted in financial uncertainty for many people, so people should only contribute sponsor money if they feel able to. We will then welcome everyone back at venues across the county at our 5k, 10k and Pretty Muddy events”

People can visit raceforlife.org and sign up free for ideas on how they can create their own Race for Life at Home challenge. And the Cancer Research UK Race for Life Facebook page will help people feel energised with weekly live workout sessions. Organisers are also inviting participants to join the Race for Life at Home community by sharing photos and videos on social media using the hashtag, #RaceForLifeAtHome.

Every hour three people are diagnosed with cancer in Yorkshire and The Humber* 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.

Cancer Research UK’s life-saving work relies entirely on the public’s generous support. The charity was able to spend over £4 million last year in Yorkshire on some of the UK’s leading scientific and clinical research. Now many of the scientists and researchers funded by Cancer Research UK are currently being redeployed to help in the fight against Covid-19, including assisting with testing for the virus. By helping to beat coronavirus, the charity can lessen the impact that this virus is having on the care of cancer patients.

Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life, in partnership with Tesco, is an inspiring series of 5k, 10k and Pretty Muddy events which raise millions of pounds every year to find new ways to tackle cancer.

Money raised through Race for Life helps to make long-term research and pioneering trials possible, leading to new tests and kinder treatments, which could save the lives of more men, women and children across Yorkshire.

For more information, visit raceforlife.org or call 0300 123 0770.

New Dates for Race for Life events in Yorkshire 2020

HUDDERSFIELD
Sunday 28 June
Sunday 13 September
BRADFORD
Saturday 6 June
Saturday 19 September
LEEDS
Sunday 31 May
Sunday 27 September
WAKEFIELD
Saturday 13 June
Saturday 3 October
ILKLEY
Sunday 5 July
CANCELLED
SHEFFIELD
Sunday 14 June
Sunday 6 September
DONCASTER
Sunday 21 June
Sunday 20 September
CHESTERFIELD
Sunday 7 June
Sunday 27 September
BARNSLEY
Wednesday 1 July
TO BE CONFIRMED
SCARBOROUGH
Wednesday 8 July
Wednesday 9 September
YORK
Sunday 13 September
NO CHANGE
HARROGATE
Sunday 12 July
Sunday 11 October
SCUNTHORPE
Wednesday 3 June
Wednesday 26 August
CLUMBER PARK
Saturday 27 & Sunday 28 June
Saturday 5 & Sunday 6 September
CLEETHORPES
Sunday 17 May
Sunday 4 October