The plan? They’re holding 280 events across the country between May and July. You don’t even have to be super-fit to take part – you can walk, jog or run the distance. Louise from Bangor, who took part last year, says “In just two weeks following the beginner’s programme, I went from not even being able to run for one minute to doing eight minutes smiling all the way. If I can do it, so can you.”
As if the feel good factor wasn’t enough, there’s an added incentive – you can enjoy 15 minutes of fame while you’re getting fit. This year’s biggest fundraisers will be chosen to appear on the pages of new! Magazine.
If you’re not sure how to go about fundraising, then there is a simple solution – set up an online sponsorship page when you enter Race for Life. Just visit www.raceforlifesponsorme.org – it’s free to set up and you can customise your own page before and after your event, making it easier to tell friends and family all over the world about your plans.
Helen from Maidstone has hers up and running and is already seeing the benefits: “It takes about two minutes to set up. All you need to do is set your fundraising target, insert a picture if you want to and write a message to encourage all your family and friends to sponsor you – Easy! It is so much less hassle than trying to collect the money in person.” And you can increase your sponsorship money by 28 per cent without it costing a penny extra through Gift Aid.
Simply getting your family and friends to give their full name and address (including their postcode) and tick the Gift Aid box. Cancer Research UK can claim tax back from the government. Why hesitate – you can become part of something really special. “I don’t know what is more satisfying, knowing that you’ve completed the 5k, or knowing that the money raised is going to help so many people,” says Rosina Gordon from Preston, who ran last year.
So go on, sign up today. Together we will beat cancer.