A set of shop mannequins are kick-starting the excitement in the run up to the Race for Life in Durham, thanks to the support of Tesco staff, who are swapping trolleys for trainers.
The front window of the Tesco store on Dragonville Industrial Estate is set up to show a miniature Race for Life – with mannequins wearing Race for Life t-shirts all ready for action.
The Race for Life comes to Durham on Sunday 30 June. The 5k event will take place at St. Leonard’s Sports Fields and so far, around 1000 people are signed up to take part.
Joanne Reay, (45), is the Community Champion for the Tesco store and set up the window display to encourage sign ups to the Race for Life. She’s also got the staff involved and this year will see the biggest number of employees from the store, sign up to the event in Durham.
Joanne knows first-hand the effects cancer can have on families. She lost her sister Louise to the disease nearly a year ago.
Joanne explained: “It’s coming up to the first-year anniversary of my sister’s death in June. She was 41 when she died. Towards the end, she ticked off two items from her bucket list and was determined to make the most of the time she had left. She was a real inspiration.
“I’m joining the Race for Life in Durham for her and I know that other staff members, and our customers have their own personal reasons for joining. It only seems right that I do what I can to support such an important fundraising event. That’s why we’re happy to take part and encourage our customers to join too.”
Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life, in partnership with Tesco, is an inspiring series of 5k, 10k, Pretty Muddy and Pretty Muddy Kids events which raise millions of pounds every year to help beat cancer by funding crucial research.
This year, for the first time, Cancer Research UK is inviting everyone – women, men and children – to join the Race for Life events.
Jordan McMahon, (29) Dot Com Manager, said: “It’s good that men are taking part, because it’s a great opportunity for everyone to get involved. Lots of men and women from our department are taking part and are really looking forward to it. Everyone has a reason for signing up and the more people who get involved, the more funds we can raise for life-saving research.”
Vikki Lambert, Cancer Research UK’s Area Events Manager for Durham, said: “We are very grateful to Joanne, Jordan and Tesco for their support. By joining the Race for Life, everyone can make a real difference to people with cancer, right now.
“Race for Life events are fun, colourful and uplifting. Taking part in the events enables like-minded people to get together and remember loved ones lost to cancer or celebrate the lives of those who have survived.”
Tesco has been the proud partner of Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life for 18 years.
Thanks to everyone who raises money, Cancer Research UK is able to support research to help beat 200 types of cancer. The good news is more people are surviving the disease than ever before. Cancer survival in the UK has double since the early 1970s and Cancer Research UK’s work has been at the heart of that progress.
To join the Race for Life, visit raceforlife.org