A series of major fundraisers in Harrogate has been called off, leaving a hole in the budget for a national charity.
Race for Life, along with Pretty Muddy and Pretty Muddy Kids, had already been postponed from July to October but has now been cancelled altogether for this year.
Organisers Cancer Research UK say the decision has been made to keep participants safe. The events usually attract hundreds of participants onto the Stray, completing 5km and 10km courses.
Lisa Millett, the charity’s spokesperson in North Yorkshire, said:
“Since it began in 1994, Race for Life has raised over £890m for Cancer Research UK’s life-saving work. We’re incredibly grateful to everyone who has taken part and hope their support will continue.
“We know Race for Life is such a treasured part of the UK’s events calendar and it is with a heavy heart that for the first time in 27 years we have to announce that it won’t be taking place. The safety of our supporters, volunteers, suppliers and staff is however essential.
“We hope the Race for Life event series will be back bigger and stronger than ever in 2021. In the meantime, we’d love to invite as many people as possible to join us by taking part in Race for Life at Home in these challenging times.”
As a result of lockdown, Cancer Research UK says it expects to see a drop in income of up to 25 percent.
Through Race for Life at Home, the charity is encouraging people to set themselves challenges to complete in their own gardens or public places. It hopes the money raised will go some way towards filling the gap left my its major events, which fund long-term research and pioneering trials to treat people across the UK.
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Cancer Research UK is expecting a 25 percent drop in income this year because fundraising events have been called off
Lisa added: “Cancer hasn’t stopped and people affected by cancer need our support more than ever.
Cancer charity moves Harrogate Race for Life to October“From a run or 5K walk around the garden or local park to limbo in the living room, there is no wrong way to Race for Life at Home. With no entry fee, people might choose to twerk, star jump, squat, skip, dance, trampoline, or come up with their own novel way of taking part and share it with friends. We’re urging everyone – men women and children – to join our community and help raise vital funds.”
Organisers of Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life in Harrogate have said that the event will now go ahead in October after coronavirus forced them to cancel in July.
It means that the Race for Life 5K, 10k, Pretty Muddy, Pretty Muddy Kids on The Stray will no longer take place on Sunday 12 July.
The Race for Life event has now been rescheduled for Sunday 11 October.
Participants who had already signed up for the Race for Life event in July can transfer their entry to the new October date and will be contacted directly by the charity. If a participant is unable to make the new date they can request a refund or donate the entry fee.
Lisa Millett, Cancer Research UK spokesperson for North Yorkshire, said:
“While our priority is ensuring that people affected by cancer get the support and information they need during unprecedented times, we’re having to work quickly to understand the impact the pandemic will have on Cancer Research UK’s fundraising.
“Since it began, Race for Life has raised over £890m for Cancer Research UK’s life-saving work. We’re incredibly grateful to everyone who has taken part and hope their support will continue throughout this time.”
Every day 83 people are diagnosed with cancer in Yorkshire but more people are surviving the disease now than ever before. Cancer survival in the UK has doubled since the early 1970s and Cancer Research UK’s work has been at the heart of that progress.
Many of the scientists and researchers funded by Cancer Research UK are currently being redeployed to help in the fight against COVID-19. By helping to beat coronavirus, the charity can lessen the impact that this virus is having on the care of cancer patients.