There are only two days left to enrol for this year's Race for Life in Oxford and help in the battle to find a cure for cancer.

About 8,500 people will take part in the Oxfordshire legs of the UK's largest women-only fundraising event.

Competitors at the Oxford races in the University Parks on Saturday and Sunday are aiming to raise more than £600,000 in sponsorship.

And there is another Race for Life in the grounds of the Heythrop Park Hotel, near Chipping Norton, on Sunday, June 22.

Every pound raised will go directly to the scientists, doctors and nurses working to find new treatments at the Cancer Research UK Clinical Centre at the Churchill and John Radcliffe Hospitals, in Headington.

The demand for places is so high organisers Cancer Research UK have increased the number of races from three to four this year, but there is still time to take part - if you are quick.

Cancer survivor Deb Markham will be lining up for her sixth Race for Life this weekend. A mother-of-three and soon to be a grandmother for a fourth time, Deb, 48, from Wantage, like many of the women taking part, has a story of remarkable courage.

She said: "In July 2001 I was diagnosed with follicular lymphoma, a type of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. It was a huge shock, because I felt so fit and healthy.

"I underwent two courses of chemotherapy and my three sisters were all tested as possible stem cell donors, in case a transplant was needed.

"As it turned out, I did need a transplant and my sister Julia, who is 44 and lives in Windsor, was a really good match."

Rather like a bone marrow transplant, a stem cell transplant involves healthy stem cells being removed from a donor and implanted in the recipient to fight the cancer.

Deb said: "Julia basically had to sit in a chair, with her arms outstretched, wired up to a machine for four hours. Her blood was taken by the machine and the stem cells were then separated from the blood, ready to be put in me."

The sisters were overjoyed when doctors at the JR told them the transplant had been a success and Deb's cancer was in remission.

She said: "What my sister did for me was incredible. I now view myself as a survivor and Race for Life is so important to me. The atmosphere is incredible and it's my way of being able to give something back."

Sarah Howett, 32, from Wantage, and her fellow Buggfit members will also be doing their bit for Cancer Research.

The Buggyfit mothers meet every week in Ardington, near Wantage, and use their babies and buggies to exercise.

Mrs Howett said: "Race for Life is particularly pertinent for me this year, as my uncle has recently been diagnosed with bowel cancer and also the father of one of my closest friends is currently being treated for stomach cancer.

"It's only us ladies who will be taking part, but I'm sure we will be cheered all the way by our families and little ones."

This year also sees men get their chance to raise some money - by taking part in Oxford's first ever Run for Moore, at 2.30pm on Sunday, to raise money for research into bowel cancer, which took the life of former England World Cup-winning football captain and Oxford City manager Sir Bobby Moore in 1993.

The Race for Life events are on Saturday, at 11am and 2.30pm, and on Sunday, at 11am. There are still places available on Saturday but entries have closed for Sunday.

Places are still available for the Heythrop Park Race for Life, on June 22, at 11am.

To take part in Race for Life and Race for Moore, see www.raceforlife.org and www.runformoore.org or call 0871 641 2273.