THE women of Worcester are expected to raise a staggering £300,000 for cancer sufferers when they take to the streets in this year's Race for Life.

2003 marks the tenth Race for Life, a five-kilometre, women-only fun run organised by Cancer Research UK.

Women all over the country will be running in 130 different races, with the aim of bringing the total raised in the past 10 years for cancer sufferers to £17.5m.

It will be the fifth Race for Life in Worcester, with the race gaining momentum each year since 1999, when just 600 women and girls entered.

Growing

Last year, almost 4,000 entrants pounded Worcester's streets and raised more than £200,000.

"With the way Worcester's Race for Life is growing and growing, we are expecting about 5,000 entrants this year," said Nick Wright, race organiser for Cancer Research UK.

"Runners in Worcester last year raised more than £200,000, which is a fantastic sum, and we are hoping for even more than that this year.

"We already have 1,300 names registered for Worcester's race."

The Race for Life phenomenon started in 1994, with 680 women running around Battersea Park, in London.

This year, 300,000 women are expected to run to raise money for the prevention, cure and treatment of cancer.

Many of them are themselves survivors, and this year, for the first time, special "I'm a survivor" caps will be given to those who want them.

As in the previous two years, Tesco is the major sponsor.

More than 700 Tesco stores up and down the country are each dedicated to entering a team of runners in the race.

Worcester's St Peter's store is no exception and already, they are getting into shape for the big event, due to take place in Worcester on Sunday, June 15.

Race for Life is also proudly supported by the Evening News.

The race will start on Worcester's Pitchcroft Racecourse and finish outside the Guildhall, in the High Street.

Entrants can walk, run, skip or jog.

To enter online, click on: www.raceforlife.org.uk or phone 08705 134 314.

For more details about the local event click here