Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life enters the history books

Cancer Research UK has today set a new Guinness World Record for the largest simultaneous stretch with 115,000 women across the UK all stretching together. The world record was set on Race for Life’s One Big Day, Sunday 4th June, which marks the first time in Race for Life’s 13 year history that 24 events have taken place on the same day at the same time.

Fitness guru and ‘Green Goddess’ Diana Moran led the stretch at the City of London race, which had 10,000 women participating. This was the first time the roads around the City of London were closed for an event of this kind.

Celebrities that took part in the stretch included Nell McAndrew, Normandie Keith, Rebecca Loos, Michelle Dewberry (The Apprentice), Linder Barker, Phina Oruche (Footballers’ Wives), Lucy Evangelista (Miss UK), Kate Silverton (BBC breakfast presenter) and Katrina Batham (ITV’s Airline series).

The women stood side by side as they were led through five key stretches including the quadriceps, hamstring, calves, glutes, and hip stretch to work different parts of the body.

Races that took part in the record attempt included London, Belfast, Edinburgh, Cardiff, Plymouth, Birmingham, Manchester, Newcastle, Bath, Bradford, Harlow, Maidstone, Oxford, Poole, Reading, Middlesex, Sheffield, Hull, Milton Keynes, Nottingham, Porstmouth, Rhyl, Stoke-on Trent and the Wirral.

Since it began back in 1994 more than two million women across the UK have taken part in Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life, a unique women-only 5km walk or run supported by Tesco. The series has raised over £100 million to fund Cancer Research UK’s pioneering work to help beat cancer. This year the charity hopes to raise £46 million with over 750,000 women taking part throughout the summer.

Rachel Roxburgh, Head of Race for Life, said: “We’re delighted to have set a new Guinness World Record, with the help of thousands of women around the country. Race for Life participants are very determined ladies and this is echoed in the continued fundraising support they give Cancer Research UK year on year.

“We hope that One Big Day will be remembered for years to come as the day that women everywhere came together to help beat cancer.”

Craig Glenday, Editor of the Guinness World Records book, says: “We’re thrilled Cancer Research UK has made it into the Guinness World Record book. Race for Life is a fantastic event and will certainly make a worthy addition to the book.”

To join find out more about Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life series log onto the Race for Life website or call the hotline on 08705 134 314.

ENDS

For media enquiries please contact Susie Rea 020 7061 8479 or Kara Smith 020 7061 8359 in the Cancer Research UK press office or, out of hours, the duty press officer on 07050 264059.