Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life celebrates its 30th year by announcing new partners for 2023

Cancer Research UK is proud to announce a series of new partners generously supporting our Race for Life events from 2023 and beyond. Race for Life, now in its 30^th year, is the UK’s largest charity mass-participation event. Since it began in 1994, more than 10 million people have taken part, raising over £920m to help fund cutting-edge research into more than 200 types of cancer.

Standard Life

We are thrilled that Standard Life are the new headline sponsor of Race for Life this year. Passionate about encouraging their customers, colleagues and local communities to take part and raise vital funds for life-saving cancer research, Standard Life Chief Executive, Andy Curran said:

“We are extremely proud to have been chosen as the headline sponsor of Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life. Over the past 200 years, millions of customers have trusted us to look after their life savings and retirement needs and key to this is to support them more broadly, in all aspects that help their long-term financial wellbeing. This is why we are delighted to work with a partner who shares the same commitment to people and their communities. This sponsorship will help us encourage participation and raise funds for life-saving research to help beat cancer.”

Working together on this new partnership with Standard Life, we can continue the incredible success of Race for Life and raise more money to help fund life-saving research. Sadly 1 in 2 of us will get cancer in our lifetime* but thanks to brilliant partnerships like these, we can continue our vital work to bring about a world where everybody can lead longer, better lives, free from the fear of cancer.

Michelle Mitchell, Chief Executive, Cancer Research UK

ScottishPower

Alongside our headline sponsor, we are pleased to also have three new official sponsors for this event, joining ScottishPower in the line up, who have proudly sponsored Race for Life for over 10 years.

As official renewable energy sponsor of Race for Life they will be helping keep energy levels high on race day. Andrew Ward, CEO UK Retail at ScottishPower said “In 2012 we began our partnership with Cancer Research UK and sponsorship of Race for Life, and we’re very proud of what we’ve achieved in supporting their life-saving work. Over the past decade our customers, employees, and their friends and family have taken part in Race for Life and their willingness to get involved has been inspiring. To date we’ve raised over £35 million for CRUK and we’re not stopping there!” We are delighted to have ScottishPower on board again as we celebrate 30 years of our Race for Life series.

Slimming World

Slimming World, the UK’s leading weight-loss organisation, will also be joining the official sponsorship line up in 2023. Slimming World have been working with Cancer Research UK for 10 years and we are so pleased to partner with them, and our other fantastic sponsors, on Race for Life. Since 2013 they have helped to raise more than £19m in fundraising through events such as the annual Big Slimming World Clothes Throw, and an annual activity challenge linked to Slimming World’s physical activity support programme, Body Magic.

Slimming World Managing Director, Lisa Salmon, says: “We’re absolutely delighted to become an official sponsor of Race for Life. The sense of community, support and fun that defines Race for Life is exactly what our members love about their weekly Slimming World groups too. The positive power of people coming together to achieve a shared goal is something both Slimming World and Cancer Research firmly believe in.”

Runners Need

We are happy to announce another new official sponsor, Runners Need, who are keen to offer their unrivalled expertise and knowledge to support people of all abilities getting outside and active. Encouraging them to take part in their local Race for Life event whilst raising money for Cancer Research UK.

To help participants of all abilities, Runners Need supported Cancer Research UK to create race plans for the 3k, 5k and 10k events. As well as giving Race for Life participants the opportunity to come in-store for expert advice on everything from gait analysis and shoe fittings, to finding the right race kit for their goals.

Jose Finch, Managing Director of Runners Need, said: “For 40 years we’ve been recommending runners the best kit to meet their challenges, and championing the benefit of tying up your laces and stepping outside for a run, which is why we raced at the opportunity to sponsor Race for Life.”

Daily Mail

Also joining the race to help save lives are the Daily Mail, who have teamed up with Cancer Research UK to become our official media partner for Race for Life, encouraging their readers to sign up to one of the hundreds of events taking place across Britain. Roland Agambar, Managing Director, Mail Newspapers said: “Daily Mail is delighted to become the official media partner for Race for Life – one of the country’s best known event series. With cancer affecting one in two people, the sponsorship provides us with a chance to encourage participation in Race for Life events up and down the country, raising money for vital research.”

We are proud to work with each and every one of our sponsors and thank them for their generosity in supporting Race for Life. If you’d like to get involved in this year’s Race for Life series, you can find your local race here. The Race for Life is open to everyone, no matter your fitness level, background, or gender. Our participants come from different backgrounds but have one thing in common – the determination to help beat cancer.

Sign up today and join the movement to help beat cancer.

*Ahmad AS et al, British Journal of Cancer, 2015

– Written by Claire Morris, Partnerships Relations Manager, Cancer Research UK