New Race for Life event expected to attract 2,500 people to Horsham

Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life is coming to the town for the first time with the course starting and finishing in Horsham Park with the route anticipated to include picturesque scenes like the Causeway.

Meanwhile, on the same weekend, Relay for Life, a 24-hour walking relay, organised by a fundraising committee on behalf of the charity will be held at Christ’s Hospital.

The “CRUK Big Weekend” aims to raise hundreds of thousands of pounds for the charity’s life-saving work.

First to kick off will be Relay for Life, a 24-hour, overnight family-friendly relay event that honours cancer survivors and celebrates life.

Teams of 8-15 people made up of families, friends and community groups, take turns to walk around a track for 24 hours in a non-stop relay. There are also games, activities, food and entertainment.

Highlights include a survivors’ lap of honour and the dusk Candle of Hope ceremony where candles are lit in memory of loved ones lost to cancer or celebration of those who are fighting or survived the disease.

The following day up to 2500 women will gather for Race for Life in Horsham Park, to jog, walk or even dance their way round the 5k course. It is hoped they will raise £130,000.

Lynn Daly, spokeswoman for Cancer Research UK in Sussex, said: “These are two very different but equally important events that can involve the whole community.

“Race for Life is one for the girls - mums, daughters, grandmas, great grandmas – it’s suitable for all ages, all fitness ranges and is a really inspirational event to be part of. You can take the course

at your own pace, with your own friends, get some exercise, have fun and of course raise money for a great cause.

“Dads and brothers etc are welcome too – they can help out with stewarding and providing drinks and goodie bags, or just cheer on the women as they move round the course.

“Relay for Life on the other hand is for all the family from little tots to grandparents. There’s timefor everyone to take the course at their own pace as well as to reflect and celebrate.

“Again, this is the first time Relay has come to Horsham. It’s organised by a well-organised and enthusiastic volunteer committee and they are looking for teams to take part and raise money.

Across the country, Race for Life raises millions of pounds every year for life-saving research into all cancers – helping men, women and children across Sussex.

Relay for Life too raises hundreds of thousands of pounds through similar community events around Britain.

All the money raised at both events goes to fund Cancer Research UK’s crucial work.

In the South East nearly five people are diagnosed with cancer every day, that’s 42,400 people every year.

However, more people are beating cancer than ever before. Survival rates have doubled over the last 40 years and Cancer Research UK’s work has been at the heart of that progress.

Thanks to the generosity of its supporters, Cancer Research UK spent nearly £25 million last year in the South East alone on some of the UK’s leading scientific and clinical research.

To find out more about Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life and register interest for 2013, visit www.raceforlife.org

For more details about Relay for Life visit: http://relay.cancerresearchuk.org/site/TR/RelayForLife/General?fr_id=1254&pg=entry