THOUSANDS of women are warming up to raise money and remember loved ones at this weekend’s Race for Life events in Oxford.

Women and children can walk, jog or run 5km around the University Parks on Saturday and Sunday.

The annual fundraising events, which are part of a series of similar races across the country, are organised by Cancer Research UK.

The charity’s area events manager, Becky Ryczowski, said 5,000 women and children were booked to take part in the two events – aiming to raise about £340,000 in sponsorship.

She said: “We have a whole mixture of ladies taking part of all fitness levels.

“We have survivors of cancer, we have people getting through treatment, we have people taking part who have lost someone special and they are doing it in memory of those people, trying to raise money to support a great cause.”

Miss Ryczowski said more than 230 Race for Life events were being held across the UK between May and July with about 680,000 women raising more than £60m.

She added there would also be a Race for Life in Cornbury Park, near Charlbury, in July, which would be one of just 12 locations across the country to offer a 10km course as well as 5km.

She said: “We have quite a few ladies who do it every year and this just gives them a little extra challenge.”

Those taking part can dress in the charity’s trademark pink or wear fancy dress, run with others or have pictures of loved ones pinned to their backs.

Since Race for Life began in 1994, some four million women across the UK have taken part, raising £240m for Cancer Research UK.

Sheila Salmon, of Ascott-under-Wychwood, is planning to take part in the Cornbury Park event in memory of her husband Bob, who died in October 2007.

The 59-year-old said it would be the third time she had taken part in honour of her late husband, a former police officer in Chipping Norton.

She said: “We always look forward to it. The atmosphere is electric.

“Everyone has photos and pictures of why they are doing it. When you have finished, you are quite elated.”

Mrs Salmon added she would be taking part alongside her daughter Caroline Peedle and 10-year-old granddaughter Chloe. Her grandson Jack, nine, will also be going along to watch.

She said: “It is nice to know you are not the only one who has lost someone.”

Both events in the University Parks are fully booked and start at 11am both days.

Places are still available for the Cornbury Park event, which starts at 1pm on Sunday, July 26.

For more information, see raceforlife.org.uk