Cancer Research UK (CRUK) has announced the return of Race for Life at Home, due to the ongoing pandemic restrictions.
The Race for Life at Home campaign encourages everyone to take part in a 5k run or walk in their local area to raise money for the charity’s research.
In 2020 the Race for Life programme raised £2.8m through its virtual fundraising events Race for Life at Home and a Very 2020 Race for Life.
The tagline for the campaign is: “Even whilst we’re still apart, we can unite against cancer.” It aims to reflect that whilst Covid-19 restrictions are ongoing and physical Race for Life events have been postponed, people can still act now to help continue the charity’s research.
People can take part any time throughout April, but there will be a collective experience on the morning of Saturday 24 April in the form of a live-streamed event across Race for Life Facebook.
Like last September’s virtual event, the live stream will include a warm-up, messages from people who have been affected by cancer and a minute reflection to remember loved ones.
There will be opportunities to donate throughout and participants will then be invited to run, walk, or jog 5k in their local area.
The campaign will encourage supporters to join the Race for Life community by sharing photos and videos and tagging #RaceAtHome across social media.
CRUK: 'We’ve been hit hard by Covid-19'
Philip Almond, Cancer Research UK’s executive director of marketing, fundraising and engagement, said: “Postponing our Race for Life events until autumn was a hard but necessary decision to give the best chance of ensuring they can go ahead, with all necessary Covid-19 guidelines. Race for Life at Home doesn’t replace our physical events, we still want as many people as possible to join us on the start line later this year, but it gives our supporters an opportunity to take action and unite against cancer now.
“By doing a 5k in their local park or neighbourhood this April and raising money, people will be helping continue our life-saving work. Like most charities, we’ve been hit hard by Covid-19 and are predicting a £300m drop in our income over the next three years.
“We’re determined to keep making progress for people affected by cancer but every step we take relies on support from the public. We hope the new campaign demonstrates we still need help as much as we did at the beginning of the pandemic and inspires people to see that they can make a difference now. Every pound will help us get back on track with our vital work to save more lives.”
As a result of the pandemic, CRUK expects to see a decline in fundraising income of £160m this financial year.
The charity is facing making major cuts to its research budget, and without further support, will need to make major cuts to its research budget every year for the next four-to-five years.
This would mean potentially spending £150m less per year by 2024 than it had planned to spend.
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