Race for Life
Encyclopedia
Race for Life is a series of fundraising events organised by the British
charity
, Cancer Research UK
. They involve running
, jogging or walking a 5-kilometre course and raising sponsorship for doing so. The money raised is donated to the charity to fund cancer research
and campaigns. The races are limited to women, though men can volunteer to help organise and marshal the event.
, London and raised £36,000. Race for Life has subsequently grown to become one of the UK's largest fundraising events, which in 2006 involved 240 races, 750,000 participants and raised £46 million. Since Race for Life began in 1994, 4.7 million participants across the UK raised over £327 million for the charity. In 2003 a male member of the equality campaign, Parity
, objected to being unable to take part in a Race for Life because of his sex. The Equal Opportunities Commission
declined to consider his complaint.
Notable participants include Jane Tomlinson
, whose first fundraising event was a Race for Life in 2001 after being diagnosed with terminal breast cancer
. She went on to raise over £1.75 million for charity before her death in 2007. In 2009 actresses Laila Morse
and Lynda Bellingham
became a Race for Life ambassadors in memory of Wendy Richard
and Jade Goody
, both of whom had recently died from cancer.
. The proceeds from this event only went towards bowel cancer research and campaigns and the venture was discontinued in 2010.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
charity
Charitable organization
A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization . It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization (NPO). It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A...
, Cancer Research UK
Cancer Research UK
Cancer Research UK is a cancer research and awareness charity in the United Kingdom, formed on 4 February 2002 by the merger of The Cancer Research Campaign and the Imperial Cancer Research Fund. Its aim is to reduce the number of deaths from cancer. As the world's largest independent cancer...
. They involve running
Running
Running is a means of terrestrial locomotion allowing humans and other animals to move rapidly on foot. It is simply defined in athletics terms as a gait in which at regular points during the running cycle both feet are off the ground...
, jogging or walking a 5-kilometre course and raising sponsorship for doing so. The money raised is donated to the charity to fund cancer research
Cancer research
Cancer research is basic research into cancer in order to identify causes and develop strategies for prevention, diagnosis, treatments and cure....
and campaigns. The races are limited to women, though men can volunteer to help organise and marshal the event.
History
Race for Life was conceived specifically for raising awareness of women's cancers. The first Race for Life event took place in 1994 when 680 participants participated in a race in Battersea ParkBattersea Park
Battersea Park is a 200 acre green space at Battersea in the London Borough of Wandsworth in England. It is situated on the south bank of the River Thames opposite Chelsea, and was opened in 1858....
, London and raised £36,000. Race for Life has subsequently grown to become one of the UK's largest fundraising events, which in 2006 involved 240 races, 750,000 participants and raised £46 million. Since Race for Life began in 1994, 4.7 million participants across the UK raised over £327 million for the charity. In 2003 a male member of the equality campaign, Parity
Parity (charity)
Parity is a United Kingdom-based equal rights organisation, campaigning to promote and protect the equality of men and women under the law. Its main focus has been in the area of state pensions and associated benefits, and most of its notable successes have occurred in this field...
, objected to being unable to take part in a Race for Life because of his sex. The Equal Opportunities Commission
Equal Opportunities Commission
The Equal Opportunities Commission was an independent non-departmental public body, in the United Kingdom, which tackled sex discrimination and promoted gender equality...
declined to consider his complaint.
Notable participants include Jane Tomlinson
Jane Tomlinson
Jane Emily Tomlinson, CBE was an amateur English athlete who became well known in the United Kingdom for raising £1.85 million for charity by completing a series of athletic challenges, despite suffering from terminal cancer.Having had treatment for breast cancer in 1991, aged 26; the disease...
, whose first fundraising event was a Race for Life in 2001 after being diagnosed with terminal breast cancer
Breast cancer
Breast cancer is cancer originating from breast tissue, most commonly from the inner lining of milk ducts or the lobules that supply the ducts with milk. Cancers originating from ducts are known as ductal carcinomas; those originating from lobules are known as lobular carcinomas...
. She went on to raise over £1.75 million for charity before her death in 2007. In 2009 actresses Laila Morse
Laila Morse
Laila Morse is an English actress, best known for playing Mo Harris in BBC series EastEnders and Janet in the 1997 movie Nil by Mouth ."Laila Morse" is an anagram of an Italian phrase for "my sister" - a name she...
and Lynda Bellingham
Lynda Bellingham
Lynda Bellingham is a Canadian-born English actress, broadcaster and author, who is known for her distinctive husky voice.-Early life:...
became a Race for Life ambassadors in memory of Wendy Richard
Wendy Richard
Wendy Richard, MBE was an English actress best known for playing Miss Brahms in Are You Being Served? and Pauline Fowler in EastEnders...
and Jade Goody
Jade Goody
Jade Cerisa Lorraine Goody was an English celebrity. She came into the public spotlight while appearing on the third series of the Channel 4 reality TV programme Big Brother in 2002, an appearance which led to her own television programmes and the launch of her own products after her eviction from...
, both of whom had recently died from cancer.
Run for Moore
Cancer Research UK's The Bobby Moore Fund also organised a similar event exclusively for men, Run for MooreRun for Moore
Run for Moore was a UK-wide series of men-only fundraising events in aid of The Bobby Moore Fund at UK charity Cancer Research UK. Although participation is limited to men, women can get involved by volunteering and marshalling at the event...
. The proceeds from this event only went towards bowel cancer research and campaigns and the venture was discontinued in 2010.