[O]RGANISERS of Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life in Penrith regret to announce the event – due to take place later this month – has been postponed until September 16.
The charity has made the difficult decision to postpone the fundraising 5k, 10k, Pretty Muddy and Pretty Muddy Kids events from Saturday 9 and Sunday 10 June until Sunday 16 September after fewer participants than expected signed up.
The changes are being made to help raise as much money as possible for vital cancer research.
Laura Cass, Cancer Research UK Event Manager for the North West, said: “Race for Life raises money to fund life-saving research. So, we owe it to our participants and supporters to ensure that we raise as much money as possible in the most cost-efficient way.
“It is the first time we have held an event in Penrith and although just over 500 women had signed up to take part over two days, entries are lower than anticipated. Taking the costs of staging the event into consideration, we’ve taken the difficult decision to postpone it until Sunday September 16 and run the events over one day instead of two days. This will help us to save costs and raise as much money as possible for vital cancer research.
“We also hope that postponing the event will give more time to encourage women and girls to sign up to take part.
“We are very sorry for any disappointment and inconvenience this may cause. We want to pass on a sincere thank you to the women who have signed up so far and encourage them to transfer to the new date in September, if they are able to.
“We hope our supporters will understand the reason for this decision. One in two people in the UK will be diagnosed with cancer at some point in their lives. Research is very expensive and the only way we can afford to fund it, and save lives, is with their help. Money raised through Race for Life allows Cancer Research UK’s doctors, nurses and scientists to advance research which is helping to save the lives of men, women and children in Cumbria and across the UK.
“The charity would like to thank Lowther Castle for their support.
“All participants who have signed up to the Penrith event will be contacted by Cancer Research UK by email and we will do our utmost to ensure they can take part on Sunday 16 September. Participants who have already registered and want to join us on the new date will automatically be transferred to the event on 16 September.
“Women who can’t take part on the new date will be able to swap to another event by calling 0300 123 0770. If people can’t attend an alternative event or the new date in Penrith please call 0300 123 0770. For more information visit www.raceforlife.org.”
The Penrith Race for Life events will be temporarily taken down from the Race for Life website and will go back online with the new date.
Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life, in partnership with Tesco, is an inspiring women-only series of 5k, 10k, Pretty Muddy, Half Marathon and Hiking events which raise millions of pounds every year to find new ways to tackle cancer.
Cancer Research UK is also holding a Race for Life 5k, 10k and Pretty Muddy event in Carlisle – which marks its 21st anniversary this year – on Sunday 15 July at Sheepmount Stadium. This has seen almost 2,000 ladies sign up so far.
Money raised through Race for Life helps to make long-term research and pioneering trials possible, leading to new tests and kinder treatments, which could save the lives of more men, women and children across Cumbria and the North West.
