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{{Short description|Series of fundraisers organized by Cancer Reaearch UK}}
⚫ ]
{{for|the 1928 American silent film|A Race for Life}}{{For|the 1954 British film|Mask of Dust}}

⚫ ]
'''Race for Life''' is a series of fundraising events organised by the ] ], ]. They involve ], jogging or walking a 5-kilometre course and raising ] for doing so. The money raised is donated to the charity to fund ] and campaigns. The races are limited to women, though men can volunteer to help organise and marshal the event <ref name="FAQ">{{cite web| url = http://www.raceforlife.org/faqs/other-questions.aspx#0 | author=Race for life 2009 | title=FAQ 1.Why is Race for Life for women only? | accessdate=2008-02-11}}</ref>. '''Race for Life''' is a series of fundraising events, organised by ] ]. They involve running, jogging or walking a 5-kilometre, 10-kilometre or 'Pretty Muddy' course and raising ] for doing so. The money raises funds for ] in all 200 types of cancer. The Race for Life series of events is open to people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds take part in the Race for Life, and with more than 150 Race for Life 5k events across the United Kingdom. The event was previously restricted to women only.


==History== ==History==
].]] ]
], ].]]
Race for Life was conceived specifically for raising awareness of women's cancers. The first Race for Life event took place in 1994 when 680 participants participated in a race in ], London and raised £36,000. Race for Life has subsequently grown to become one of the UK's largest fundraising events, which in 2006 involved 240 races, 750,000 participants and raised £46 million. Since Race for Life began in 1994, 4.7 million participants across the UK raised over £327 million for the charity.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.raceforlife.org/about-us/what-is-race-for-life.aspx|title=About us|work=Cancer Research UK Race for Life|accessdate=2010-07-05}}</ref> In 2003 a male member of the equality campaign, ], objected to being unable to take part in a Race for Life because of his sex. The ] declined to consider his complaint.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://archive.thisisyork.co.uk/2003/3/25/270855.html | work=Evening Press | title=`Sexist' Race For Life is slammed by campaigner | date=25 March 2003 | accessdate=2009-08-29}}</ref>
The Imperial Cancer Research Fund identifies Jim Cowan as having the original idea for the Race for Life.<ref name="cowanglobal.files.wordpress.com">{{Cite web|url=http://cowanglobal.files.wordpress.com/2014/01/icrf-letter.jpg|title=1994 letter from Jill MacRae (Imperial Cancer Research Fund) acknowledging Jim Cowan as the originator of the Race for Life}}</ref> The Fund then engaged Mr. Cowan to organise and act as race director for the first Race for Life event,<ref name="cowanglobal.files.wordpress.com"/> which took place in 1994 in Battersea Park, London, where 750 participants raised £48,000. {{citation needed|date=January 2014}} The following year, the race was extended to 6 venues and had 4,500 participants with £210,000 raised. {{citation needed|date=January 2014}} It continued to grow year on year to become one of the UK's largest fundraising events, which in 2006 involved 240 races, 750,000 participants and raised £46,000,000. {{citation needed|date=January 2014}} Since Race for Life began in 1994, 6,000,000 people across the UK have raised over £493,000,000 for the charity.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.raceforlife.org/about-us/what-is-race-for-life.aspx|title=About us|work=Cancer Research UK Race for Life|accessdate=2010-07-05}}</ref> Notable participants include: ], whose first fundraising event was a Race for Life in 2001 after being diagnosed with terminal ]. She went on to raise over £1,750,000 for charity before her death in 2007.<ref>Nico Hines, , ''The Times'', September 4, 2007</ref> In 2009, actresses ] and ] became a Race for Life ambassadors in memory of ] and ], both of whom had recently died from cancer.<ref>, ''The Press and Journal'', 3 March 2009</ref> Bellingham later died from cancer in 2014.

The rules were amended in 2012 to allow boys up to the age of 12 to participate following a determined campaign by Claire Parke.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.derbyshiretimes.co.uk/news/local/we-ve-won-1-4442686|title=We've won!|newspaper=]|date=2012-04-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161008031332/http://www.derbyshiretimes.co.uk/news/we-ve-won-1-4442686|archive-date=2016-10-08}}</ref> In 2019, Cancer Research UK opened Race for Life to anybody regardless of age and gender.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/whats-on/whats-on-news/race-life-makes-major-change-15645143|title=Race For Life makes MAJOR change to its events|first=Amy|last=Browne|date=January 8, 2019|website=Liverpool Echo}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/men-can-take-part-cancer-15673818|title=Men can now take part in Cancer Research UK's Race for Life|first=Jessica|last=Sansome|date=January 14, 2019|website=Manchester Evening News}}</ref> Unfortunately, in 2020, the Race for Life events were postponed until 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://raceforlife.cancerresearchuk.org/the-race-for-life-2020-event-series|title=The Race for Life 2020 Event Series|work=Cancer Research UK Race for Life|date=2020-06-04|accessdate=2020-07-03}}</ref> so instead a new and virtual event was created; it was dubbed ''Race for Life at Home''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://raceforlife.cancerresearchuk.org/about-our-events/race-for-life-at-home|title=Race for Life at Home – Race for Life|work=Cancer Research UK Race for Life|accessdate=2020-07-03}}</ref>


==Run for Moore==
Notable participants include ], whose first fundraising event was a Race for Life in 2001 after being diagnosed with terminal ]. She went on to raise over £1.75 million for charity before her death in 2007.<ref>Nico Hines, , ''The Times'', September 4, 2007 </ref> In 2009 actresses ] and ] became a Race for Life ambassadors in memory of ] and ], both of whom had recently died from cancer.<ref>, ''The Press and Journal'', 3 Marxch 2009</ref>
{{main|Run for Moore}}
Following complaints from John Taylor claiming that the Race for Life was in breach of Section 29 of the ] (which states it is illegal to discriminate in the provision of goods, facilities and services), the Equal Opportunities Commission wrote to Cancer Research UK which then launched the 5&nbsp;km Run for Moore.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gazetteherald.co.uk/archive/2006/02/16/Ryedale+Archive/6670131.Men_urged_to_run_for_their_rights/|title=Archive news from the Gazette & Herald|website=www.gazetteherald.co.uk}}</ref>


The proceeds from this event only went towards ] research and campaigns. The venture was discontinued in 2010.{{failed verification|date=March 2012}}<ref name="Moore">{{Cite web|url=https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/get-involved/become-a-partner/our-charity-partners/bobby-moore-fund|title=Bobby Moore Fund|date=November 30, 2015|website=Cancer Research UK}}</ref>
== Criticisms ==
{Race for Life has been criticised for being discriminatory against men due to banning males from taking part in the races. Equality campaigners such as John Taylor of Parity objected to such discrimination stating "men get cancer too and men are relatives and friends of women who get cancer. They want to do something to help so why are they denied?". Taylor reported the event to the Equal Opportunities Commission Author Brian Clegg echoed such criticisms of the sex discrimination, stating "there is no justification for it, except to reinforce the old stereotypes that only women can be caring and supportive". He further stated that "organizers of Race for Life should drop their appalling sexism" and he argued that "just because it's for a good cause doesn't justify discrimination". Such discrimination is compounded by the fact that men are at a significantly greater risk of cancer than women and have a higher rate of mortality too
Despite initially refusing requests to allow men, or have events for men, the organisation did eventually back down and launched Run for Moore. However, this event is strictly focused on bowel cancer, does not run every year, and is not promoted and supported to the same extent as the Race for Life. Other responses to the criticisms have included extending the event to focus on all cancers rather than just female specific ones and also allowing the female participants to run in the memory of a cancer sufferer (of either gender).


==See also== ==See also==
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==External links== ==External links==
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Latest revision as of 02:42, 27 September 2024

Series of fundraisers organized by Cancer Reaearch UK For the 1928 American silent film, see A Race for Life.For the 1954 British film, see Mask of Dust.
Runners in a Race for Life wear a card in memory of the people they know affected by cancer.

Race for Life is a series of fundraising events, organised by charity Cancer Research UK. They involve running, jogging or walking a 5-kilometre, 10-kilometre or 'Pretty Muddy' course and raising sponsorship for doing so. The money raises funds for cancer research in all 200 types of cancer. The Race for Life series of events is open to people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds take part in the Race for Life, and with more than 150 Race for Life 5k events across the United Kingdom. The event was previously restricted to women only.

History

Race For Life 2011, on the grounds of the Cheltenham Race Course.
Race For Life 2011 at Parker's Piece, Cambridge.

The Imperial Cancer Research Fund identifies Jim Cowan as having the original idea for the Race for Life. The Fund then engaged Mr. Cowan to organise and act as race director for the first Race for Life event, which took place in 1994 in Battersea Park, London, where 750 participants raised £48,000. The following year, the race was extended to 6 venues and had 4,500 participants with £210,000 raised. It continued to grow year on year to become one of the UK's largest fundraising events, which in 2006 involved 240 races, 750,000 participants and raised £46,000,000. Since Race for Life began in 1994, 6,000,000 people across the UK have raised over £493,000,000 for the charity. Notable participants include: Jane Tomlinson, whose first fundraising event was a Race for Life in 2001 after being diagnosed with terminal breast cancer. She went on to raise over £1,750,000 for charity before her death in 2007. In 2009, actresses Laila Morse and Lynda Bellingham became a Race for Life ambassadors in memory of Wendy Richard and Jade Goody, both of whom had recently died from cancer. Bellingham later died from cancer in 2014.

The rules were amended in 2012 to allow boys up to the age of 12 to participate following a determined campaign by Claire Parke. In 2019, Cancer Research UK opened Race for Life to anybody regardless of age and gender. Unfortunately, in 2020, the Race for Life events were postponed until 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, so instead a new and virtual event was created; it was dubbed Race for Life at Home.

Run for Moore

Main article: Run for Moore

Following complaints from John Taylor claiming that the Race for Life was in breach of Section 29 of the 1975 Sex Discrimination Act (which states it is illegal to discriminate in the provision of goods, facilities and services), the Equal Opportunities Commission wrote to Cancer Research UK which then launched the 5 km Run for Moore.

The proceeds from this event only went towards bowel cancer research and campaigns. The venture was discontinued in 2010.

See also

References

  1. ^ "1994 letter from Jill MacRae (Imperial Cancer Research Fund) acknowledging Jim Cowan as the originator of the Race for Life".
  2. "About us". Cancer Research UK Race for Life. Retrieved 2010-07-05.
  3. Nico Hines, Jane Tomlinson, charity fundraiser, dies aged 43, The Times, September 4, 2007
  4. Race for Life women pay their tributes, The Press and Journal, 3 March 2009
  5. "We've won!". Derbyshire Times. 2012-04-13. Archived from the original on 2016-10-08.
  6. Browne, Amy (January 8, 2019). "Race For Life makes MAJOR change to its events". Liverpool Echo.
  7. Sansome, Jessica (January 14, 2019). "Men can now take part in Cancer Research UK's Race for Life". Manchester Evening News.
  8. "The Race for Life 2020 Event Series". Cancer Research UK Race for Life. 2020-06-04. Retrieved 2020-07-03.
  9. "Race for Life at Home – Race for Life". Cancer Research UK Race for Life. Retrieved 2020-07-03.
  10. "Archive news from the Gazette & Herald". www.gazetteherald.co.uk.
  11. "Bobby Moore Fund". Cancer Research UK. November 30, 2015.

External links

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