Glasgow’s Race for Life events are cancelled for 2020

The charity has taken the difficult decision to withdraw all 400 Race for Life events across the UK this year to protect the country’s health and adhere to restrictions on mass gatherings due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

This includes the Race for Life Pretty Muddy obstacle course which can no longer take place on Sunday, September 6, at Pollok Country Park, Glasgow.

Cancer Research UK expects to see its fundraising income decline by up to 25 per cent in the next financial year as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Lisa Adams, Cancer Research UK spokeswoman in Scotland, said: “We remain tirelessly committed to making progress for people affected by cancer but now more than ever, support from the public will be vital. We simply will not be able to continue funding our life-saving work without it.

“Since it began in 1994, Race for Life has raised over £890m for Cancer Research UK’s life-saving work. We’re incredibly grateful to everyone who has taken part and hope their support will continue.

“We know Race for Life is such a treasured part of the UK’s events calendar and it is with a heavy heart that for the first time in 27 years we have to announce that it won’t be taking place. The safety of our supporters, volunteers, suppliers and staff is, however, essential.

“We hope the Race for Life event series will be back bigger and stronger than ever in 2021.

“In the meantime, we’d love to invite as many people as possible to join us by taking part in Race for Life at Home in these challenging times.”

Women and men across Scotland are already vowing to carry on and complete a Race for Life at Home challenge, in their garden or their nearest green space.

People can visit raceforlife.org and sign up free for ideas on how they can create their own special challenge.

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

The Glasgow 5K and 10K Race for Life events which had been due to take place at Glasgow Green on May 17 were originally postponed with the hope that they would rescheduled for this autumn.

The decision to cancel them altogether along with the Race for Life Pretty Muddy event at Pollok Park this September is a major blow to the charity.

An incredible £20 million has been raised in Glasgow to fund gentler and more effective treatments for cancer since Scotland’s first Race for Life event was held in the city in 1995.

Money raised at the event which attracts 7000 participants every year helps scientists find new ways to prevent, diagnose and treat the disease, helping save more lives.