Get set for the race of your life

FOR the first time, a Race for Life event is to be held in Stevenage.

Organisers hope that 2,000 women will take part and raise £166,000 for Cancer Research UK.

The 5k run, held in association with The Comet, is set to take place in Fairlands Valley Park on July 15.

Teresa Hicks from Race for Life said: "We are really excited to announce the very first Race for Life at Stevenage.

"I'd really urge every woman to take part as it's such an inspiring and important event as the money raised really does make an invaluable contribution to beating cancer."

More than 800,000 women throughout the UK are expected to take part in the Race for Life 2007 series.

Supported by Tesco, it opened for entries on Monday and is set to be the largest series ever with 280 events nationally. It is hoped they will raise £60 million for the charity's scientific work.

Since Race for Life began back in 1994, over 2.7 million women across the UK have taken part, raising over £140 million to fund the charity's pioneering work to help beat cancer.

It pledges that every pound raised in sponsorship goes directly to the scientists, doctors and nurses who work to find new treatments.

Gloria Hunniford, patron of Race for Life, said: "Last year we broke two Guinness World Records thanks to the hundreds of thousands of amazing women who took part in Race for Life. This year we want to continue to build on this success and raise even more funds for vital research into cancer.

"The genuine enthusiasm and emotion demonstrated by women across the country creates an atmosphere on race day that is truly inspiring.

"We know that Race for Life holds a special place in many women's hearts and hope that together we will beat cancer."

For more information or to enter Cancer Research UK's Race for Life in Stevenage log on to www.raceforlife.org or call the hotline on 08705 134 314.