Step into Spring with Race for Life in Hammersmith

SPRING is in the air and as the days get longer, Cancer Research UK is urging Hammersmith women to get into step with Race for Life.

Entering Race for Life is the ideal way for women of all ages, shapes and sizes to motivate themselves to become more active as they get ready to walk, jog or run at Wormwood Scrubs, on Saturday, July 10th.

Becoming more active has benefits that will go on well after the event, as research shows that even regular, moderate physical activity can help reduce the risk of cancer. Moderate activity is anything that leaves you feeling warm and slightly out of breath – it can be anything from a brisk walk to a spot of gardening.

Being physically active could help to prevent thousands of cancer cases in the UK every year. Not only does it help to maintain a healthy body weight but it also has a protective effect in itself. Studies show that it can reduce the risk of bowel cancer by a quarter and the risk of breast cancer by 20-40%.

Race for Life is the UK’s largest women-only fundraising event series where all the money raised goes to fund Cancer Research UK’s life-saving work.

The Hammersmith event is one of just 29 across the UK where women have the choice of taking part in the traditional 5k Race for Life route or stepping up the challenge to 10k by continuing round the course for a second time.

This year Cancer Research UK is encouraging 3,000 women to enter Race for Life at Wormwood Scrubs. When they register they will have the option to take part in the 10k course, without having to pay an additional entry fee.

Louise Needham, Hammersmith Event Manager for Race for Life, said: “Race for Life is not a competitive event. It’s about women of all ages, shapes, sizes and fitness levels coming together to share amazing moments and help beat cancer. They can walk, jog or run the 5k or 10k course and revel in Race for Life’s unique atmosphere of sisterhood.”

“Many women are put off entering Race for Life because they think they won’t be able to complete the route. But we know that women often cover several kilometres on an average shopping trip, without even realising it, so taking part in Race for Life is definitely achievable.”

Doing some training offers benefits for everyone – from ladies planning to stroll round the 5k course chatting to their friends to women determined to double the distance and push themselves to complete Race 10k.

Louise Needham continued: “Some women don’t do any training for their Race for Life event but it’s healthier and safer to do some exercise before the day. You don’t need to go out and pound the pavements – unless you really want to! Walking is a great form of exercise and it’s really easy to fit some extra steps into your day, especially now spring is here. To get started, why not get off the bus a couple of stops earlier or take the stairs at work instead of the lift.”

To help women get ready for the Hammersmith 5k Race for Life and Race 10k, Cancer Research UK has teamed up with celebrity fitness trainer Lucy Wyndham-Read and devised training plans for different levels of ability.

Free and easy to download from the Race for Life website, there are six-week training plans designed for walkers, joggers or runners. They feature guidance on warming up and stretching, as well as motivation.

Louise Needham added: “One-in-three people in the UK will be diagnosed with cancer at some stage in their lives. But the good news is that more people are beating the disease than ever before. Cancer Research UK’s work is at the heart of that progress. By helping to raise money through Race for Life, our supporters are turning hope into reality.”

Race for Life in Hammersmith is a new event for 2010 and organisers are hoping that 3000 women will help hit a fundraising target of £261,000.

This money is crucial to fund Cancer Research UK’s life-saving work. The charity supports the work of scientists, doctors and nurses who are dedicated to curing cancer by understanding its causes and investigating how best to prevent, diagnose and treat it. Cancer Research UK spent nearly £154 million last year in London on some of the UK’s leading scientific and clinical research. Cancer Research UK researchers at Hammersmith Hospital have a strong track-record in research to improve treatments for cancer. They are currently working to understand how and why some breast and lung cancers become resistant to treatments and how they can best tackle this to improve survival in people with these types of cancer.

Louise Needham added: “One-in-three people in the UK will be diagnosed with cancer at some stage in their lives. But the good news is that more people are beating the disease than ever before. Cancer Research UK’s work is at the heart of that progress. By helping to raise money through Race for Life, our supporters are turning hope into reality.”

To enter Race for Life, and download the free training plans, visit www.raceforlife.org. Women can also enter by calling 0871 641 1111.