HUNDREDS of women and children united against cancer earlier this month - by taking part in Cancer Research UK’s Pretty Muddy at Ayr Racecourse.

Some 800 women and children of all abilities showed their incredible commitment to the cause on October 2 as they took their place at the start line to help beat cancer sooner.

Now organisers of the Pretty Muddy events are sending a heart-felt message of thanks to everyone who took part and all their supporters.

And they’re asking them to make every step count by paying in their sponsorship money as soon as possible so that it can be used to fund life-saving research.

Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life, in partnership with Tesco, is an inspiring womenonly series of 5km, 10km, Pretty Muddy and Hiking events which raises millions of pounds every year to find new ways to tackle cancer.

Frances Kippax-Geary, Cancer Research UK’s Ayr Events Manager, said: “Lifesaving research is being funded right now thanks to people like the women and children of Ayr who joined the fight at Pretty Muddy.

“By taking part and raising money, our participants play a crucial role in helping to turn discoveries made in the lab into new, bettertreatments for patients in Scotland and across the UK and we’d like to thank everyone who took part in the event on Saturday.

“The atmosphere on the day was hugely moving -full of emotion, courage, tears and laughter - as people came together to remember loved ones lost to cancer or celebrate the lives of those dear to them who have survived.

“Race for Life offers a unique opportunity for likeminded ladies and children to unite against a disease that affects us all in some way.

“Now we’re asking everyone who took part, and all the friends, family and colleagues who pledged to sponsor them, to return the money they’ve raised as soon as possible.

“Money raised - whether it’s £10 or £100 - will help Cancer Research UK scientists find new ways to prevent, diagnose and treat the disease, helping save more lives.”

One in two people in the UK will be diagnosed with cancer at some stage in their lives, but the good news is more people are surviving the disease now than ever before. Cancer survival in the UK has doubled since the early 1970s and Cancer Research UK’s work has been at the heart of that progress.

Dr Áine McCarthy, Cancer Research UK’s Senior Science Communications Officer, said: “There are over 200 types of cancer and we need continued investment in research to help us find new ways to prevent, diagnose and treat them all.

“That’s why we need everyone who took part in Pretty Muddy Ayr to take the vital last step by returning their sponsorship money so that our scientists, doctors and nurses can continue to make vital strides forward in research.”

Sponsorship money can be paid online, by phone, by cheque or in person at a Cancer Research UK shop.

For information on returning sponsorship money, or to make a donation, visit raceforlife.org

RACE FOR RESEARCH

EVERY day, around 88 people are diagnosed with cancer in Scotland.

Cancer Research UK’s lifesaving work relies on the public’s support. Thanks to the generosity of its supporters, the charity was able to spend around Some £34 million last year in Scotland on some of the UK’s leading scientific and clinical research - helping more men, women and children survive the disease.