HAMPSHIRE women are being urged to sign up for Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life and become part of the biggest female-only team in the UK.

Entry to the Southampton and Winchester events is now open and the charity is encouraging ladies in the south to recruit their friends and family to register for the fundraiser. Last year, the women of Southampton and Winchester raised a combined £675,000 by walking, jogging or running the 5k course.

In 2010, organisers are encouraging 12,300 women to put their best feet forward and raise £686,000 towards Cancer Research UK’s life saving work.

Since Race for Life began in 1994, the overall death rate for cancer has dropped by 15 per cent.

Event manager Christina Tomlinson said: “This year’s Race for Life is going to be full of amazing moments for everyone - from lining up at the start with thousands of other women, to reading participants’ inspirational ‘back-signs’ and the fantastic sense of achievement at crossing the finish line.

“Women of all ages, abilities, shapes and sizes take part. They motivate and inspire each other to complete the course. Many simply walk round, chatting and having fun but they all share the wonderful atmosphere at the event.”

Hampshire participants will be among 700,000 women taking part in over 230 Race for Life events across the UK this summer. Together, it is hoped they will raise a staggering £60m to help fund vital research into cancer and its treatments.

“One-in-three people in the UK will be diagnosed with cancer at some stage in their lives,” said Christina. “But the good news is that more people are beating the disease than ever before. By helping to raise money through Race for Life, our supporters are turning hope into reality.”