Edinburgh women are being urged to ‘join the girls’ to help beat cancer by entering Tesco and Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life.

Organisers want local women to recruit their mums, sisters, daughters, aunties, friends and workmates now the Edinburgh event has opened for entries.  By registering now, they will have plenty of time to plan and fundraise together before the big day out.

This year Race for Life in Edinburgh takes place at the Holyrood Park, on Sunday, June 19th.  Last year almost 7,000 women took part in the 5k and 10k events and raised almost £500,000.  In 2011, organisers are hoping to smash this record.

Race for Life is the UK’s largest women-only fundraising event series where all the money raised goes to fund Cancer Research UK’s life-saving work.  Women of all ages, shapes, sizes and abilities join together to walk, jog or run 5k or 10k to raise money to help beat cancer.  All women are welcome, regardless of whether they are taking part on their own or as part of a group.

Event manager, Helen Tibbott, said: “Every hour, around three people are diagnosed with cancer in Scotland.   When Race for Life started in 1994, many people diagnosed with cancer did not survive.  Since then, money generated by Race for Life has supported Cancer Research UK’s work and now more people are beating the disease than ever before.”

Helen Tibbott continued: “Race for Life in Edinburgh is a unique celebration of sisterhood and pride.  The atmosphere is amazing, with local women from all walks of life coming together to make a positive difference to people affected by cancer.  They motivate and inspire each other to complete the course with many simply walking round, chatting and having fun.

“In 2011, we hope more women than ever before will take part.  We need our Race for Life regulars, as well as women who took part years ago, to join together with many new faces to help save more lives.”

Cancer Research UK supports the work of doctors, nurses and scientists who are dedicated to beating cancer by understanding its causes and investigating how best to prevent, diagnose and treat the disease.

The charity’s vital work is behind many important drugs, such as tamoxifen and herceptin, which have saved the lives of thousands of women with breast cancer; temozolomide, which is used worldwide to treat people with the most common type of brain tumour; and carboplatin, one of the most successful cancer drugs ever developed.

Edinburgh is one of 42 venues across the UK where women can choose to enter the traditional 5k Race for Life or select the Race 10k route when they register, without having to pay an additional entry fee.

Women in Edinburgh can enter Cancer Research UK’s 5k and 10k Race for Life  online or by calling 0871 641 1111.

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