THE RUN up to The Gazette-backed Basingstoke Race for Life has begun once again - and organisers are hoping for another runaway success.

Coming to the borough for the fourth year, the national event in aid of Cancer Research UK is now celebrating its 10th birthday.

Race for Life is the charity's national series of sponsored walks and runs held exclusively for women to raise money for research into cancers that affect women.

The event was brought to Basingstoke in 2000 with the town's women recording the highest number of entries for an inaugural race and obliterating the organisers' fundraising target of £40,000. Around 2,500 women completed the course at the town's War Memorial Park and raised almost £123,000.

In 2001, the event was moved to Down Grange to accommodate more participants and 4,000 women raised a massive £200,000. And last year, Basingstoke's record was smashed yet again when almost 5,300 women of all ages completed the Down Grange course and raised a staggering £287,000.

This year there are 5,500 places up for grabs in the Basingstoke Race for Life, to be held, once again, at Down Grange on Wednesday, June 25. And the charity has set the town a fundraising target of £300,000.

Race for Life organiser Clare McCrow said: "This year marks a very special occasion for Race for Life as it is our 10th birthday.

"It is a chance for us to celebrate our achievements over the last 10 years and, for the Basingstoke community, it is a chance to celebrate raising more than £600,000 over the past few years - just amazing!"

She added: "Thank you so much to everyone who took part last year and helped raise £280,000 for Cancer Research UK. Let's make this year our best year yet!"

To enter Race for Life, call 08705 134 314 or log on to the new improved Race for Life website www.raceforlife.org