After taking part in the Race for Life Pretty Muddy 5K in July 2017, I decided to sign up for the 10k race this year (minus the mud!) I encouraged a couple of friends to also take part to raise money for Cancer Research, and in return I got a ‘group leader’ badge, which was very exciting. This would be my friends’ first time taking part in a Race for Life event and they started their training a couple of months before in preparation.
On the 8th of July, in the 28 degree heat, we started our 10k run. There was a great turn out, with thousands taking part in the events over the weekend, and lots of friends and families there to support. The run was on the Portsmouth Seafront; we started on the common, ran around past the Pyramids Centre and along part of the seafront. As we were doing the 10k race as opposed to the 5k, we had to do two laps of the course.
Thankfully on our way round they had water bottle stops and people on the sidelines spraying runners with water, which was very welcomed by all! One of the nicest things I noted about the race was how supportive and friendly the runners were to one another, running with those of the same ability and encouraging each other to carry on.
Although the hot weather made the run particularly challenging, my friends and I completed the run together, collected our medals and celebrated with ice cream. As I’m taking part in the Great South Run in October this year, to raise money for the mental health charity Mind, this 10K run was a good milestone to get to, in preparation for the upcoming 10 mile run. Now time to up my game!
Unfortunately, almost everyone has been affected by cancer in one way or another, but the work that Cancer Research are doing will hopefully bring us closer to finding a cure. My personal experience has been with family members, sadly my Great Grandad and Uncle both lost their lives to cancer. I hope that my taking part in Race for Life will raise awareness, so we become more educated in the initial symptoms of cancer, to help catch it early, but also inform us more in preventative measures we should be taking.
We are delighted as a group to have raised an incredible £542.50 + £117.50 Gift Aid for Cancer Research UK!
Even though the race is complete, it is not too late to donate and support this amazing charity. Just click here, thank you!
By Amy Carlin
Sales Operations Manager
