Cancer charity fundraisers will get the chance to participate in an annual ‘Race for Life’ event in Horsham in 2013.
Cancer Research UK will hold one of their Race for Life events, which is the largest woman-only fundraising event in the UK, at Horsham Park on Sunday June 2 2013.
The charity has decided to abandon its annual event at Ardingly, in Mid Sussex, in favour of a larger gathering in Horsham, as part of a nationwide reduction of smaller fundraisers across the UK.
Suzi Dent, event manager for Sussex, said: “Race for Life raises money to fund life-saving research. So we owe it to our participants and supporters to ensure that we raise as much money as possible in the most cost-efficient way.
“Although 1,289 women took part at our Ardingly event in June, entries were lower than anticipated. Taking the costs of staging the event into consideration, we have had to take the difficult decision not to run it again in 2013.”
She added: “We want to express our heart-felt thanks to everyone who has taken part in Race for Life in Ardingly and we hope our supporters will understand the reason for this difficult decision for 2013.”
Cancer Research UK said there was a bigger population to draw on around Horsham than Ardingly, while the numbers at Ardingly, which had started at nearer 2,000 when the first race was held, were well below target this year.
A spokesperson for the charity said: “It would be wonderful if each event filled every year but, sadly, they don’t so we have to keep trying new locations, venues and times.
“It won’t be as convenient for those who had Ardingly on their doorstep but there are other events all over Sussex – Hastings, Eastbourne, Brighton, Worthing, Crawley and now Horsham – so we hope that those who did Ardingly will continue to support us and transfer there.”
Cancer Research UK funds 4,000 scientists, doctors and nurses to conduct world class research into a cure for cancer.
Race For Life is one of its most popular fundraising vehicles, with around 240 held across the country, raising almost £50m. Participants can choose to walk, jog, or run 5km to help beat cancer.
It will sit alongside other Horsham fundraising events, which include the Santa Run for St Catherine’s Hospice.
A Race for Life will now be held in Horsham Park on June 2 with the Crawley venue staging its event on June 19.
For more information visit raceforlife.cancerresearchuk.org
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