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Race for Life is a series of fundraising events for women only, organised by the British charity, Cancer Research UK. They involve running, jogging or walking a 5-kilometre course and raising sponsorship for doing so. The money raised funds cancer research in all 200 types of cancer, however, none of the money from the entry fee (£14.99 for adults and £10 for children in 2012) actually benefits Cancer Research UK, only the additional sponsorship raised by participants. Following complaints from John Taylor regarding the gender exclusivity of the Race for Life events, the 5K Run for Moore was launched.
History
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 organize 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 million. Since Race for Life began in 1994, 6 million participants across the UK have raised over £493 million 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 £1.75 million 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.
The rules were amended in 2012 to allow boys up to age 11 to participate following a determined campaign by Claire Parke
Run for Moore
Main article: Run for MooreFollowing 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. Continued legal & press attention has led Cancer UK to consider a non-discriminatory entrance policy.
See also
References
- "Entry fees". Cancer Research UK Race for Life. Retrieved 2012-06-21.
- "1994 letter from Jill MacRae (Imperial Cancer Research Fund) acknowledging Jim Cowan as the originator of the Race for Life".
- "1994 letter from Jill MacRae (Imperial Cancer Research Fund) acknowledging Jim Cowan as the originator of the Race for Life".
- "About us". Cancer Research UK Race for Life. Retrieved 2010-07-05.
- Nico Hines, Jane Tomlinson, charity fundraiser, dies aged 43, The Times, September 4, 2007
- Race for Life women pay their tributes, The Press and Journal, 3 Marxch 2009
- http://www.derbyshiretimes.co.uk/news/local/we-ve-won-1-4442686#.T7jGE-C0_cK.facebook
- http://www.gazetteherald.co.uk/archive/2006/02/16/Ryedale+Archive/6670131.Men_urged_to_run_for_their_rights/
- Bobby Moore Fund website
