An urgent plea has gone out to women in Bradford to enter Race For Life.

With just two weeks to go to the closing date, there are still 1,000 places to fill for the 5k women-only event in Lister Park on Sunday, June 12.

So far 2,668 women have signed up for the Tesco and Cancer Research UK annual fundraising event.

But this year there is a problem as recruitment across Yorkshire is significantly lower than anticipated. And if fewer women take part, there will be less money to fund research, which in turn means fewer lives saved in the future. Entry closes on Thursday, June 9, and organisers are appealing to mums, daughters, grannies, sisters, friends and workmates to enter as soon as possible.

In 2010, 4,200 women took part in Race For Life in Bradford and helped raise £187,000 for Cancer Research UK’s life saving work.

Jenny Key, event manager for Race For Life in Bradford said: “We are very grateful to all the women who have already entered Race For Life in Bradford but we urgently need many more. With just two weeks to go until the event day, there are still 1,000 places to fill.

“We are issuing an urgent rallying call to the city’s ‘missing’ women. We hope they will hear our plea and register soon.

“We need them to step forward and be counted. Together, they will help us create a fantastic atmosphere on the day and every step they take will help doctors, nurses and scientists take major strides forward in research.”

Women can boost their contribution to Cancer Research UK’s work by doing a ‘wardrobe work-out’ before their event.

The charity is encouraging them to sort out and bag up clothes, books and accessories they no longer use and take them to the ‘donation station’ at Race For Life. Each participant could help raise as much as an extra £30 for life-saving research.

Women travelling to Race For Life by public transport could still bring a book or scarf or an old handbag filled with accessories to help Cancer Research UK stock their local store.

Women in Bradford can enter Race For Life online or call 0871 641 1111.

  • Read the full story in Friday's T&A