MORE than 5,000 women who ran this year's Bournemouth Race for Life have not returned their sponsorship.

And only half of those who joined the race in Poole Park have paid in their money.

If each raised £100 and didn't pay, the charity would lose up to half a million pounds.

Now the Daily Echo, which supported the event, and race organisers are urging those who have not paid in their sponsorship to do so.

The money raised from this annual event goes a long way in the fight against cancer.

It helps pay for vital research into cures for cancer - a disease with which one in three people in the UK will be diagnosed at some point in their lives.

The Bournemouth event on June 19 was deemed a massive success by Cancer Research organisers and a second event was staged - increasing the number of participants from 4,000 to 8,000 women.

But only 40 per cent of those who took part in the morning event have returned their sponsorship, and even fewer - 36 per cent - have paid their sponsorship for the afternoon race. As a result, organisers are currently £150,000 under their £450,000 target.

Participants in the Poole race on May 8 have already raised £90,201 - £30,000 more than the target figure - even though just 57 per cent of participants have handed in their sponsorship. Final return rates for Bournemouth last year was 63.4 per cent and 96 per cent in Poole.

Breast cancer sufferer Olivia Sidaway took part in the Bournemouth race and raised a fantastic £1,000 for the charity.

The mum-of-one discovered she was pregnant just two weeks after doctors diagnosed her with cancer.

She is now waiting anxiously for the baby's imminent arrival.

She said: "It really upsets me to hear this. I know it's difficult collecting money from people, but it is such a good cause that it's not too late to go back and ask people for the money. How would you feel if that was the money that helped them come up with a cure for someone you loved?"

Lorna Glanfield from Cancer Research UK said: "We had an absolutely fantastic race in Bournemouth this year with 8,000 women coming. We really want to urge them to remember to send their sponsorship money for valuable research into all kinds of cancer. Please don't forget the reasons why you came along on the day."

She added: "Those who took part in the Poole race have already smashed the target. If everyone sends in their sponsorship we could do even better."

Sponsorship money can be paid in a number of ways. Fundraisers can pay on the phone by calling 08705 134 314, by sending a cheque made payable to Cancer Research UK to Race for Life, PO Box 50, Crawley, RH10 9WA.

You can also pay online at www. raceforlife.co.uk.

First published: August 18