Local woman urges Oldham to join the Race for Life

Dawn Nisbet will feature on the giant Race for Life wall to encourage people in the town to sign up for this year’s Race for Life 5k event on 23th June.

Dawn’s personal story and motivation behind their participation in Race for Life will be displayed on a giant back sign at the venue – like the signs worn by participants on their backs and a key element of both the events and this year’s campaign.

The wall is designed to mirror the hugely emotional reflection area set up on event day, where participants come together to remember loved ones lost to cancer, celebrate the lives of those dear to them who have survived or support those going through treatment.

Dawn will also feature in a social media campaign with posts on the Cancer Research UK’s North West Events Twitter account (@CRUKEventsNW).

When asked what Race for Life events mean to her, Dawn, who first found her love for running at Park Run, explained: “I Race for Life in memory of lost loved ones and to make sure we find a way to beat cancer for good. Hilary, my step mum, lost her fight but her memory keeps driving me on to hopefully in the future prevent other families suffering and losing their loved ones. 

I've done several Race for Life events over the years and I just love the atmosphere on event day”

She continues: “Seeing the sea of pink, people who have never met before joining together to encourage everyone around the course, with the mission to beat cancer and to have fun whilst doing it! Reading the back signs is a grounding experience, realising the sheer impact that cancer has on each and every person there. 

I absolutely love the Pretty Muddy events – it’s amazing the new friends you make and the bonding experience of dragging a stranger out of an inflatable tube covered in mud!”

To those who have not yet signed up, she urges them to do so, adding: “To anyone thinking of signing up I would say "do it". It doesn't matter your pace or your time, you will have incredible amounts of fun whilst raising money for a fabulous cause. Join the thousands of others and do your bit. 

Kirsti Thompson, Cancer Research UK’s Oldham Event Manager, said: “We’re very grateful to Dawn for their support with this campaign. By following Dawn’s lead and joining the Race for Life in Oldham, people can make a real difference in the fight against cancer.”

“Our Race for Life events are fun, colourful, emotional and uplifting. You don’t need to be sporty to take part. You don’t have to train, and you certainly don’t need to compete against anyone else. It’s a perfect example of everyday people doing an extraordinary thing – uniting in a common cause to beat cancer.”

Kirsti continued: “We encourage our participants to help raise money in whatever way they like – there are lots of ideas on the Race for Life website.” 

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.

Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life, in partnership with Tesco, is an inspiring series of 5k, 10k, Pretty Muddy and Pretty Muddy Kids events which raise millions of pounds every year to help beat cancer by funding crucial research.

This year, for the first time, Cancer Research UK is inviting everyone – women, men and children – to join the Race for Life.

To join Race for Life today visit raceforlife.org or call 0300 123 0770.

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