Thousands of women in the district joined the fight against cancer by taking part in Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life in Bradford and Ilkley earlier this summer.

Now organisers are saying ‘thanks’ to everyone who took part and are urging them to return their sponsorship money.

Jenny Key, Race for Life event manager for Yorkshire, said: “Race for Life in Bradford and Ilkley was fantastic and we are so very grateful to everyone who took part or supported our participants, as well as the wonderful volunteers who helped make the event happen. Now the big day is over, we are asking our supporters to take one last step, by returning the money they’ve raised so it can go into vital research to help more men, women and children survive cancer.

“Cancer Research UK doesn’t receive any Government funding for its ground-breaking work, so the money people in West Yorkshire raise through Race for Life is crucial because it means we can go on supporting the pioneering work of doctors, nurses and scientists who are fighting cancer on all fronts.

“Many people don’t realise that their entry fee only covers the cost of the event. It’s the sponsorship money that really makes a difference.”

Cancer survival rates have doubled since the 1970s and Cancer Research UK’s work has been at the heart of that progress.

Today, more than 95 per cent of men diagnosed with testicular cancer are cured. More women are surviving breast cancer and more children are surviving childhood cancers than ever before.

Miss Key added: “Despite improvements in treatment, we still have a long way to go.

“One in four people in the UK will die from cancer. With the help of people in Bradford and Ilkley we want to change that.”