Lancaster University Sports Centre will be running its own Race for Life event on Sunday 14 July at 11am.
Race for Life is one of the largest women-only fundraising events in the United Kingdom and is part of Cancer Research UK’s continual efforts to raise money in order to fund medical research and beat cancer. Cancer Research UK claims that so far the organisation has funded the work “of over 4,000 researchers, doctors and nurses dedicated to helping more people beat cancer”.
Since the event started in 1994, the charity has had over six million participants running to raise money. In total, these runners have managed to raise over £493 million, which is substantially more than any other UK event raising money to fund cancer research. Despite the race itself being limited to women only, the volunteering to help manage the event is open to absolutely anybody; more details can be found on the Cancer Research UK website.
SCAN spoke to Danielle McCann, Sports Development Officer at the University’s Sports Centre, which has played a huge part in organising the event. McCann said: “We are so pleased to have secured this event for the third successive year and [we] are looking forward to the biggest race entry yet.” The Lancaster Race for Life has managed to attract around nine-hundred competitors, and McCann emphasises “changing the course will make it more enjoyable for every level of competitor”, whilst promising to be a fun event that will “raise much needed funding for a superb charity”.
The University has planned a new 5km route following feedback from previous participants. The revised route includes the campus perimeter and makes use of the beautiful campus grounds. The University says that the course is just over three miles, and participants are welcome to “walk, run, jog or dance [their] way around”. As a result of this, there will be restricted access on to campus on 14 July, with the main drive being closed from 6.00 am and not being re-opened until around 2.00 pm. Buses will either be re-directed to Alexandra Park or will make a stop on the A6, with Sports Centre users and other visitors being encouraged to park on the south-west side of campus.
