Photos: Pink army of hundreds Race for Life

Now Cancer Research UK is calling on the formidable ‘Pink Army’ who took part in the Race for Life event at Lancaster University to make every step count by paying in their sponsorship money as soon as possible.

Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life, in partnership with Tesco, is an inspiring women-only series of 5k events which raises millions of pounds to fund life-saving research.

This year, the charity hopes the 700 who entered will hit a fundraising target of £50,000.

Jennifer Ward, Race for Life event manager for Lancaster, said: “I want to say a heartfelt ‘thanks’ to everyone who took part in Race for Life on Sunday, and their supporters, as well as our heroic volunteers. It was a fantastic day, full of emotion, courage, tears and laughter as 700 women joined forces to beat cancer sooner.

“Now I’m asking all the women who took part – and all the friends, family and colleagues who pledged to sponsor them – to transform their passion into progress by returning the money they’ve raised as soon as possible.

“Cancer Research UK doesn’t receive any Government funding for its ground-breaking research. So every contribution matters.

“Many people don’t realise that their entry fee only covers the cost of the event. It’s the sponsorship money that really makes a difference. So, whatever the amount, we’re asking everyone to make every effort to return their sponsorship money as soon as possible. It can be paid in online, by phone or by cheque.”

One in two people will get cancer at some point in their lives. But thanks to advances in research, more people are surviving than ever before.

Recent figures show that death rates for breast, bowel, lung and prostate cancer combined have fallen by almost a third in the last 20 years. Today, more than 95% of men diagnosed with testicular cancer are cured. More women are surviving breast cancer and more children are surviving childhood cancers than ever before.

For information on returning sponsorship money, or to make a donation, visit www.raceforlife.org