HUNDREDS of Herefordshire women are expected to join forces and don their running shoes as the city welcomes Cancer Research UK's Race for Life in July.

Hereford will play host to the special fund raising event for the first time and organisers hope at least 2,000 women will take part to raise up to £60,000.

Billed for the racecourse, the unique event forms part of a chain of races throughout the country where women walk or run 5km together to help cure cancer faster by raising money for Cancer Research UK.

Hereford Leisure Centre will also be getting involved with a special 'Race for Life' class to help runners get fit for the event.

From May until July, more than 130 walks and runs will be taking place all over the country involving 130,000 women of all ages and fitness abilities.

Race for Life organiser, Nick Wright said: "It is the first year we have come to Hereford it is a nationally successful event and it's Hereford's chance to take part and do their bit."

Humble beginnings in 1994 at just one venue and 680 participants grew and grew until last year more than 250,000 women took part countrywide.

Now organisers want to ensure the 10th anniversary of the Race for Life is the best ever and together with Tesco, their official sponsors, they hope to raise £17.5 million.

The aim is to draw attention to the fact that more than one in three people in the UK will be touched by cancer at some point in their lives.

Already cash raised over the past ten years has helped to develop new treatments and lives are being saved as a result.

Cancer Research UK is the leading cash provider of cancer research in universities, institutes and medical schools throughout the UK and it is the single biggest supporter regarding research into children's cancer.

It also plays a major part in funding breast cancer research, spending more than £15 million on the disease this year alone.

Entry forms are available from Cancer Research UK shops, Tesco stores, leisure centres, libraries and GP surgeries.

The Hereford Times is backing the event and over the coming weeks will be featuring participants and explaining why they are running. We will also be publicising how people can get fit in the run up to the big day.

Hereford Times editor, Liz Griffin said: "I know from experience what an excellent event this is and how much money is raised. Every pound helps in the battle against breast cancer."

For details on how to enter call the Race for Life hotline on 08705 134 314 or log on to www.raceforlife.org.