Cancer Research has announced an at home version of its premier fundraising event will take place in April

With Race for Life events postponed until the autumn due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic and government restrictions, Cancer Research UK announces today the return of Race for Life at Home.

The Race for Life at Home campaign encourages everyone – women, men and children – to take part in a 5k in their local park or neighbourhood and raise money for the charity’s life-saving research. Centred around the unifying statement ‘Even whilst we’re still apart, we can unite against cancer’ the campaign reflects 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 vital research, which has been slowed down due to coronavirus.

Though people can take part any time throughout April, Race for Life at Home will host 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, A Very 2020 Race for Life, 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. Participants will then be invited to run, walk, or jog 5k in their local area. This can be alone, or in small, socially distanced groups, in line with government guidelines. The money raised will help fund research into all types of cancer.

The campaign will encourage supporters to join the Race for Life community by sharing photos and videos and tagging #RaceAtHome across social media.

Philip Almond, Cancer Research UK’s executive director of marketing, fundraising and engagement, said: “Postponing our Race for Life events ‘til 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.”

Tim Boxall, business director at Anomaly said: “Covid-19 has been tough on everyone, but especially people affected by cancer. Race for Life at Home represents an opportunity for everyone to break the lockdown monotony, get out there, do something fun, and feel part of a huge collective effort to support people with cancer.  It's a win-win.  And that's what our ads try to evoke.”

From 17 March, the campaign will be seen across social media, PR and radio. The Prodigy’s track ‘Stand Up’ will be used in the radio advert to represent the energy of Race for Life. Media has been planned and bought by MediaCom. 

People can sign up at raceforlife.org and entry costs £5 per person, covering the cost of a fundraising pack and medal.

Since it began in 1994, Race for Life, in partnership with Tesco, has raised over £896m for Cancer Research UK’s life-saving work. As a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, Cancer Research UK 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 £150 million less per year by 2024 than it had planned to spend.