ORGANISERS of Oxford’s Race for Life still need another 300 women to take part in the event at University Parks on Sunday.

The last-minute appeal comes as the numbers signed up to take part in the fundraising event organised by Cancer Research UK have fallen short.

Last year 6,165 women took part in Oxford’s Race for Life and raised more than £362,500.

So far more than 6,000 women have signed up but that’s still not enough to meet the organisers’ target of 6,300, as they are hoping to raise £371,000-plus this year.

Participants in the charity race will join nine-year-old Georgia Knowlden, who has been taking part in Race for Life since her mum, Lara, was diagnosed with ovarian cancer.

Georgia, a pupil at Oxford High School’s junior school, raised over £2,000 last year.

Kidlington resident Daphne Norridge, 50, who underwent a double mastectomy in 2010, will be a guest of honour this year.

The mother-of-two was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2009 and has run the Race for Life four times. And this year she will be holding the microphone to share her story on stage.

Organisers are hoping more people will still sign up and they have until midnight tonight to do so.

Event manager Simon Burley said: “We are falling short this year, but in the final week last year we had 290 people sign up – so we set ourselves, and the ladies of Oxford, the target of having 300 people sign up this year in the last week.

“If we reach the target, since we started in Oxford 19 years ago, 77,000 people will have taken part.

“It is such a worthwhile cause and the money we are raising is bringing forward the day which all cancers are cured.”

Mr Burley also reassured waiving potential runners that lots of people have previously walked the course, so lack of training for the 5k race would not be an issue.

He said: “We have had people make their way around on space hoppers, tied together in a three- legged race and even dance their way around.

“Within reason people can make their way around as they like.”

The 5km event will start at 10am on Sunday.

  • To enter, visit raceforlife.org or call 0845 600 6050