RACE for Life fundraising events in Bournemouth and Poole this year were so successful organisers have already added another venue to their 2006 race list.

Demand for a place in one of the country's most popular fundraising events for Cancer Research is so high in Dorset that next year Canford Park Arena in Wimborne will host a race for the very first time.

Organisers hope the extra venue will mean that all those who couldn't get a place this year will be able to compete in event.

Around 8,000 women took part in the morning and afternoon events along Bournemouth seafront this year, raising £189,100 and £165,848 respectively to date.

The Poole Park event saw 1,666 women run and walk the 5k route, with just under £92,000 sponsorship sent in so far.

A third event was held in Dorchester.

Dates for Dorset's Race for Life events will be announced in the Daily Echo in the coming weeks.

Lorna Glanfield, from Cancer Research UK, said: "We're very excited about introducing Canford Park Arena as an additional Race for Life venue next year.

"As we saw this year there are huge numbers of women in Dorset who want to take part - 11,600 across the county.

"Despite opening a second Race for Life in Bournemouth this year, we still had to turn women away and we're happy that with the extra venue next year many more women can join us."

Despite the huge demand for race places half of the women who took part in the Bournemouth and Poole events have still not returned their sponsorship.

The money raised from Race for Life goes a long way in the fight against cancer, funding vital research into cures for the disease. One in three people in the UK will be diagnosed with cancer at some point in their lives.

Sponsorship can be paid in a number of ways. Fundraisers can call 07805 134314, pay online by clicking here or send a cheque made payable to Cancer Research UK to Race for Life, PO BOX 50, Crawley, RH10 9WA.

To order photographs from this year's event call 01202 411307/8 or do it online by clicking here and selecting Bournemouth Daily Echo in the newspaper title and then choosing Bournemouth Race For Life from the events dropdown menu.

First published: September 3, 2005