Cancer charity races cancelled across South London amid lockdown
A string of 16 cancer charity fundraisers across London parks has been cancelled.
Cancer Research UK’s 2020 Race for Life events in the capital are among 400 Race for Life events across the UK this year scrapped to protect the country’s health as restrictions on mass gatherings caused by the COVID-19 pandemic continue.
This includes events at:
Battersea Park
Blackheath
Crystal Palace Park
Clapham Common
Lloyd Park, Croydon
Regent’s Park
Hyde Park
Richmond Park
Victoria Park
Finsbury Park
Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park
Hampstead Heath
Trent Park, Enfield
Hillingdon House Farm Sports Ground
Kempton Park Racecourse
Epsom Downs Racecourse
Participants who have already signed up will be contacted directly by the charity.
Cancer Research UK expects to see its fundraising income decline by up to 25 per cent in
the next financial year as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Lynn Daly, Cancer Research UK spokesperson for London, said: “We remain completely
committed to making progress for people affected by cancer but now more than ever,
support from the public will be vital. We simply will not be able to continue funding our life-
saving work without it.
“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.”
Runners are already vowing to carry on and complete a
Race for Life at Home challenge, in their garden or their nearest green space. People can
visit raceforlife.org and sign up free for ideas on how they can create their own special
challenge. Organisers are also inviting participants to join the Race for Life at Home
community by sharing photos and videos on social media using the hashtag,
#RaceForLifeAtHome
Lynn added: “Cancer hasn’t stopped and people affected by cancer need our support more
than ever.
“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.”
Around 33,800 people are diagnosed with cancer every year in London.** But the good
news is 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.
Cancer Research UK’s life-saving work relies entirely on the public’s generous support. The
charity was able to spend nearly £153 million last year in London alone, on some of the UK’s
leading scientific and clinical research.
Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life, in partnership with Tesco, is an inspiring series of 5k,
10k and Pretty Muddy events which raise millions of pounds every year to find new ways to
tackle cancer.
Most of the London events had already been rescheduled for late summer. The decision to
cancel the entire series is a major blow to the charity.
Money raised through Race for Life helps to make long-term research and pioneering trials
possible, leading to new tests and kinder treatments that help save the lives of more men,
women and children in London.
For more information, visit raceforlife.org or call 0300 123 0770.
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