Race for Life Oldhamers help raise more than £400,000

Oldhamers were amongst almost 10,000 women and children who took on 5k, 10k or a Pretty Muddy obstacle course at Heaton Park in Prestwich over the weekend, helping to raise an estimated £412,000 for Cancer Research UK.

Runners and walkers from Oldham and Saddleworth were amongst the participants at he flagship Race for Life event.

Grace Samuels, from Saddleworth, took part in the muddy 5k obstacle course with her friends Tess Pendlebury and Harriet Ibberson from Manchester.

The three of them were covered head to toe in mud by the time they reached the finish line.

Nicola King, Emma King and Claire Brentnall, all from Oldham, donned pink tutus to run Race for Life on Sunday for Grandad George.

Also taking part in Race for Life 5k were Connor Butterworth, aged 10, Christy Barnett (20), and Rory Butterworth (12) from Saddleworth.

They were running for mum Trisha who has recently finished treatment for breast cancer and was there to spectate.

Professor Rob Bristow, Director of the Manchester Centre Research Centre, a partnership between Cancer Research UK, The Christie and The University of Manchester, thanked the participants on stage on behalf of more than 4,000 scientists.

He said: “Crucial cancer research is being funded right now thanks to women running, jogging or walking at Race for Life.

"By signing up and taking part in Race for Life, women in Manchester can make a real difference in the fight against cancer.

“Money raised will help Cancer Research UK scientists and doctors find new ways to prevent, diagnose and treat the disease, helping save more lives.”

Coronation Street actress Brooke Vincent said: “It has been amazing. I’ve absolutely loved every minute – I’m covered in mud but can’t stop smiling, I’m so happy to have taken part with my close friends.

"It’s a great day, full of love and laughter and for a good cause.

“It was fantastic to join thousands of women in Manchester raising funds for Cancer Research UK.

"Everyone was helping each other round the course as we scrambled under cargo nets and crawled through mud pits.

"It was really moving to read the notes on people’s backs about why they were taking part or who they were running for.

“Everyone has been touched by cancer in some way and taking part in Race for Life really felt like I was giving back and helping a cause that I care about.”

Every year, around 41,700 people are diagnosed with cancer in the North-West.

Cancer Research UK’s life-saving work relies on the public’s support.

Race for Life, in partnership with Tesco, is an inspiring women-only series of 5k, 10k, Pretty Muddy, Half Marathon and Hiking events which raise millions of pounds every year to help beat cancer sooner by funding crucial research.

One in two people in the UK will be diagnosed with cancer at some stage in their lives, 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 on the public’s support.

Thanks to the generosity of its supporters, the charity was able to spend over £26 million last year in Manchester on some of the UK’s leading scientific and clinical research - helping more men, women and children survive the disease.

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