The Race for Life 2020 event series
An open letter to our supporters
Hello everybody,
This isn’t the news we want to share with you, but due to the continued risks of COVID-19 we have had to sadly cancel the 2020 Race for Life event series.
We had hoped to postpone events until autumn, but with uncertainty as to when mass participant events might be allowed, and whether they can take place safely, this is no longer possible. We know that thousands of you look forward to taking part each year, and we'd like you to know that the team worked hard to exhaust every option available before accepting this decision.
With no Race for Life events happening this year, your support is essential now more than ever.
This year, we hoped Race for Life would raise at least £30 million. Even with the cost-saving measures we have put in place, the charity is likely to see a drop of around 20-25% in our income over the next financial year. Beating cancer remains our top priority, so please consider how you can continue to support.
To ensure vital research can continue and to keep the spirit of Race for Life alive this year, we've launched a Very 2020 Race for Life. We're inviting our Race for Life supporters to come together and be part of a community that's already raised an amazing £350k from their own homes.
Get involved by signing up to a Very 2020 Race for Life and walk, jog or run 5k and raise money for life-saving research. Share your activity using #Very2020RaceForLife. Plus, we've got some exciting activities and announcements you really won't want to miss out on.
We’d like to express how thankful we are for your continued support. For now, keep your eyes peeled on the Race for Life Facebook page for the latest news and updates. We look forward to 2021 and making a mighty comeback!
Please continue to look out for yourself and each other.
Stay safe,
Simon Ledsham
Director of Race for Life
I’m afraid we are unable to transfer you as our 2021 dates are not confirmed. We are currently confirming events as quickly as we are able to with the venues. We will ensure that you are informed when the events are all live for 2021. We’d love to see you at our events in 2021 and thank you for bearing with us whilst we tried to deliver your event this year.
The majority of refunds have now been processed however there are a small minority that we are still working hard to process. We have unfortunately been blocked by financial and administrative processes but please be reassured we are working hard to refund you as soon as possible and apologise for the additional time this has taken. If you’re unsure whether you have received your refund please give us a call on 0300 123 0770.
Whilst we originally hoped to just postpone our Race for Life series to the autumn, it has become apparent that this will no longer be viable. It is with real sadness and disappointment that we have made this decision but with no further clarity from Government as to when mass participation events might be permitted, the uncertainty is just too high for CRUK to risk. The health and safety of our participants, volunteers, suppliers and staff is so important and another key factor in our decision to cancel the events for this year, especially as many of our participants and volunteers fall into the high risk vulnerable category.
The fundraising you have already raised will continue to go to Cancer Research UK as normal. If any of your donors would like their donation back they will need to contact us directly for a refund. Race for Life was expected to raise over £30 million in fundraising so your fundraising is needed now more than ever.
If you entered as a group and someone else signed you up, we may only have their email address. Your Group Leader will be refunded the full amount for all group members or they will have the choice to donate the whole groups entry fee.
If the above is not the case:
As you can imagine we had thousands of participants of Race for Life 2020. To send out a cancellation to all of our participants, this has to go out over the course of a day. You may just not have been sent yours yet.
Please bear with us whilst we reach out to all of our venues, suppliers and sponsors who support Race for Life every year. Together we will plan our approach for the 2021 Race for Life season and hope to have events open as soon as possible. If you have opted-in to hear from us we will notify you via email when these events are open.
There are still opportunities to support Cancer Research UK as a volunteer. Please head to our website for more details: https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/get-involved/volunteer
Yes, celebrate completing the Very 2020 Race for Life fundraising challenge with your own 2020 medal. Each nickel plated medal features the iconic Race for Life 2020 branding with a high shine polished finish.
The medals are available free of charge but during the checkout process you will have the opportunity to make a donation if you wish to do so. Standard postage and packaging applies.
Join us for a Very 2020 Race for Life. September 26th.
After a year where vital cancer trials have been delayed, the Race for Life is going to be very different in 2020, but it’s more important than ever.
Walk, jog or run 5k and raise money for life-saving research.
All we ask is that you share it online with #Very2020RaceForLife and fundraise using your Giving Page.
