AN incredible 1,800 women came together at the first Redditch Race for Life to help Cancer Research UK.

The charity hopes the support shown will help raise £60 million from the series of 5km women-only events held across the UK this summer and it is hoped the Redditch event will raise £128,000 alone to help save lives in the West Midlands area in the future.

But if individuals do not return sponsorship money to Cancer Research UK, achieving that phenomenal fundraising target becomes much harder.

Redditch Race for Life organiser Vikki Savery said: "Race for Life is such a unique and inspiring event with women uniting behind the same cause but the finish line really isn't crossed until we receive everyone's sponsorship money.

"Last year, one in three of our participants sadly didn't fundraise for us but any amount really does make a huge difference and will help Cancer Research UK find new ways to beat cancer."

Race for Life isn't over at the finishing line.

By returning their fundraising money the 1,800 women who took part in the Redditch Race for Life this year will be helping to fund Cancer Research UK's world-class research to improve understanding of cancer and investigate how best to prevent, diagnose and treat different forms of the disease.

Vikki said: "I hope everyone who took part really enjoyed it but we mustn't forget the reason why we came together - to raise money to help more people survive cancer.

"The sooner women return sponsorship money, the sooner Cancer Research UK can make the most of the funds in our efforts to beat cancer."

For more details on how to return your sponsorship money or to make a donation, visit www.raceforlife.org or call 08705 134 314.