Get your glow on with a neon night-time walk through London
If you’re not sold on running the London Marathon, Cancer Research’s Shine Night Walk offers an unmatched opportunity to take over the streets of London for an unforgettable night.
Lit by street lights and free of the daytime hustle and bustle of the capital’s tourism, this night time walk passes some of the city’s most famous landmarks, from Westminster Abbey, to Buckingham Palace and St Paul’s Cathedral.
The annual event will be held on September 21 this year, starting and finishing in Battersea Park, with a full marathon, half marathon and 10km options available to choose from.
Cancer Research UK’s spokeswoman for London, Lynn Daly, said: “September 21 is London’s time to shine.
“Last year’s participants raised a magnificent £3,036,663, so, we’re delighted Shine Night Walk is returning to the city.
“We’re working towards a world where everybody lives longer, better lives, free from the fear of cancer. But our scientists need more support to go the distance.
“That’s why we hope everyone will grab their glowsticks, walk for loved ones, walk for future generations and walk with friends old and new to help make our vision a reality.
“Nearly one in two of us will get cancer in our lifetime. All of us can support the research that will beat it.”
Participants can choose to raise money for a cancer type of their choice including prostate, breast, bowel, lung and ovarian, amongst others, or opt to support life-saving research to improve the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of the disease.
Every year in London around 36,500 people are diagnosed with cancer, according to the charity.
Across the UK more people are surviving than ever before, but the number of cases is increasing year on year.
Last year, Cancer Research UK spent more than £162million in London alone.
The city is home to two of the charity’s research centres, the Convergence Science Centre and the City of London Centre, which includes the multidisciplinary Francis Crick Institute.
Research happening right includes understanding how lung cancer evolves to help personalise treatment, using artificial intelligence to improve therapy for sarcoma, trialling aspirin as a cancer treatment and investigating how kidney cancers evolve.
By taking part in Shine Night Walk, supporters of all abilities can help fund this vital work.
Participants can go at their own pace, from a leisurely stroll to a lively stride or a full-on power walk passing the city’s well-loved landmarks.
Ms Daly said: “Taking part isn’t about being first over the finish line, it’s about helping our scientists go further and faster in the fight against cancer. In the last 50 years, we’ve helped double survival in the UK.
“Together, we are beating cancer.”
People can also volunteer on the night. From helping to set up the Shine Night Walk course to guiding participants around the city, there are lots of opportunities to get involved, meet new people and learn new skills.
Anyone who signs up between August 19 and September 2, can claim 30 per cent off the entry fee by using the code SNWAUG24.
To enter or volunteer visit shinewalk.org
Pictured top: Shine Night Walk 2023 (Picture: Cancer Research UK)