ABOUT 7,000 women (and men) will converge on the University Parks in Oxford this weekend to run 5km to help find a cure for a cancer.

With three Race for Life events during today and tomorrow and Oxford's first Run for Moore on Sunday afternoon, organisers Cancer Research UK are hoping to raise more than £600,000.

Every pound 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.

Race organiser Vikki Savery said: "Oxford is a major fundraiser for Race for Life, indeed, last year we had to introduce another race just to cope with demand for places and I just want to say a very big thank-you to all the women of Oxfordshire who have accepted our invitation to Race for Life 2008."

Ms Savery added: "My own mum died of cancer when I was 15 and it changed my world. I lost what was left of my childhood and I had to grow up too quickly.

"Today, in 2008, we have made such strides in research into cancer that my mum would probably have survived to see her children grow up.

"But one in three women will still be affected by cancer in their lifetime and this is a statistic that we at Cancer Research UK are desperate to change."

Race for Life is the UK's largest women-only fundraising event.

This year, there will be Race for Life events at the University Parks today at 11am and 2.30pm, plus a further event tomorrow, at 11am.

There will also be a Race for Life at Heythrop Park on Sunday, June 22, at 11am.

Hoping to waddle' her way to the finishing line in Sunday's event will be Amy Beatty.

The 21-year-old mother-of-one from Witney is eight months pregnant and, after an appeal for a 'waddle partner', will complete the course with BBC Radio Oxford presenter Jo Thoenes, 34.

Mrs Beatty said: "I'm really looking forward to the race and, as long as I take it slowly, I think I'll be fine getting around the course - although my brother Dean Temple, who works at Ladbrokes in Carterton, has laid odds of 9-1 on me going into labour within two days of finishing the race!

"Whatever happens, my husband Paraic and daughter Siobhan will be there to meet me at the finish line and my new daughter will complete her first Race for Life in my tummy, and that's fabulous!"

The county's menfolk will also get chance to do their bit for cancer research this year, thanks to Run for Moore.

Former England goalkeeper David Seaman will be lining up with the other participants at the Parks on Sunday at 2.30pm for the 5km men-only run, which is organised by the Bobby Moore Fund for Cancer Research UK.

England World Cup-winning captain, and former Oxford City manager Bobby Moore died from bowel cancer in 1993, at the age of 51.

Mr Seaman said: "I'm continually impressed at how many men turn out to run and that is testament to how much fun the event is and the buzz you get from knowing you're raising money for a great cause - and in the name of such a great man."