WOMEN of all ages and fitness levels will be donning their trainers on May 8 as they take part in this year's Poole Race for Life.

It is the second year the event has been held in Poole Park and organisers are hoping the 1,600 participants will top the £52,500 raised last year and help reach the £23 million national fund-raising target for Cancer Research UK.

Some people have chosen to run the 5km course and others have elected to walk. Many will be taking part in memory of people they have lost through cancer.

All money raised from this year's Race for Life campaign will go towards research into the prevention, treatment and cure of the disease.

Race for Life is sponsored by Tesco nationally and JP Morgan locally.

The Poole race kicks off at 11am and starts and finishes in the park, with the majority of the race taking place along the promenade, on surrounding roads, through Baiter recreation ground and in Poole Park.

There will be no specific Race for Life parking but participants can park in the town and enjoy a short walk to the starting point.

Local fitness instructor Debbie Whittle will be taking the aerobic warm-up to get participants ready for the race and music will come from 2CR FM.

Race for Life is also staging an event in Dorchester on June 12 and two in Bournemouth on June 19, one at 11am and one at 2pm.

If you haven't entered a race and would still like to, there are still more than 700 places available for the Bournemouth 2pm race along Bournemouth seafront on June 19. Log on to the Race for Life website

See Monday's Daily Echo for a four-page picture special and a list of all the women taking part.

First published: May 7