Local MP Mary Macleod has joined with fellow parliamentarians on Westminster Bridge to encourage mums, daughters, sisters, grandmas and friends to take part in Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life .
Mary will join fellow MPs Claire Perry, Margot James, Jane Ellison and Andrea Leadsom to take part in the race on 13th June at Battersea Park.
Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life, in partnership with Tesco raises millions of pounds every year for life-saving research into 200 types of cancer – helping men, women and children across the UK survive.
Mary commented: “Race for Life is not about athletic prowess but about taking part at your own pace and raising money for the charity’s life-saving work. It is a startling fact that someone in London is diagnosed with cancer every 20 minutes.
“We’ll all be taking part in the Battersea Race for Life and we’d love other women and girls to join us and sign up now. As Cancer Research UK says – together we will beat cancer.”
Race for Life started as one event in Battersea Park in 1994. At the time, many people diagnosed with cancer did not survive. Since then, money generated by Race for Life has supported Cancer Research UK’s work and now more people are beating the disease than ever before.
As Race for Life celebrates its 18th birthday, Cancer Research UK hopes 625,000 women will take part in events across the country and raise around £55 million for the charity’s groundbreaking research.
Sarah Woolnough, Director of Policy at Cancer Research UK, said: “The battle against cancer never stops, so we’re grateful that this committed and enthusiastic group of MPs is helping to rally new recruits to our cause. It is money raised through Race for Life that helps us to fund the pioneering work of doctors, nurses and scientists who are fighting cancer on all fronts.
“Thanks to research into cancer, millions of lives have already been saved. With the help of people across the UK, we intend to save many more.”
Women across the UK can enter Race for Life at www.raceforlife.org or call 0871 641 1111.