THOUSANDS of women from across the county are to descend on Pitchcroft tomorrow for the seventh Race For Life.

An estimated 5,075 will be toiling to raise much-needed funds for Cancer Research UK.

Among them will be staff from St John's Sports Centre, Worcester, who are teaming up with friends and city council workers to run.

Called Worcester Women, the 29 ladies are hoping their combined efforts will result in raising a large sum for Cancer Research UK.

Jenny Bowes, who is a receptionist at the centre in Swanpool Walk, said it was important to join together to raise money for such a worthy cause.

The 24-year-old said her training for the run had consisted of walking 30 minutes to work from her home in Lansdowne Road every day. Last year she completed the course in about 40 minutes.

"Hopefully we'll do it quicker than that," she said.

Also among the women taking part are pupils and staff from St James's school, in West Malvern. It is entering a team of 19 girls, 10 staff and one parent.

Headmistress Rosalind Hayes will be running alongside pupils some as young as nine years old.

Mrs Hayed said: "Members of the school have taken part in the race for several years, but this is the biggest team so far. The team have been preparing and all of them are really looking forward to the event."

The women-only race, organised by the cancer charity, starts at Worcester Racecourse and follows a 5km route through the city with the finish in front of the Guildhall.

This will be the seventh year that Worcester has hosted a Race for Life. In 2004, around 5,000 women took part and raised over £240,000.