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Race for Life is a series of UK-wide women-only fundraising events organised by the British charity Cancer Research UK. Despite the "significantly greater" risk of cancers in men and the higher male mortality rate, participation is limited to women. However, men can volunteer to help organise and marshal the event . Race for Life involves running, jogging or walking a 5-kilometre course and raising sponsorship from friends and family for doing so. The money raised is donated to the charity and funds cancer research and campaigns.
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 Battersea Park, 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 and 750,000 participants and raised £46 million. Since its inception, Race for Life has raised over £240 million for the charity.
Cancer Research UK's Bobby Moore Fund also organises a similar event exclusively for men, Run for Moore. The proceeds from this event only go towards bowel cancer research and campaigns.
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".
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
References
- "Cancer Inequalities and Ethnicity". Cancer Research UK. Retrieved 2010-04-25.
- Race for life 2009. "FAQ 1.Why is Race for Life for women only?". Retrieved 2008-02-11.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - "About us". Cancer Research UK Race for Life. Retrieved 2009-02-26.
- Bobby Moore Fund website
- http://therightsofman.typepad.co.uk/the_rights_of_man/2010/02/would-cancer-research-launch-a-racist-for-life-event.html
- "`Sexist' Race For Life is slammed by campaigner". Evening Press. 25 March 2003. Retrieved 2009-08-29.
- Clegg, Brian (20 April l2009). "Just because it's for a good cause doesn't justify discrimination". Now Appearing: the writing life from Brian Clegg. Retrieved 2009-08-29.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - "What's your reason?". Race for Life. Retrieved 2009-08-29.