Cancer Research UK is launching a socially distant version of its flagship Race for Life event that supporters can take part in next month.
The charity raised £35m in 2018/19 through Race for Life, which normally consists of 5km, 10km and mud obstacle course events that participants are sponsored to take part in.
In April, the charity launched an online version of Race for Life after physical events were postponed until the autumn because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The charity announced on Monday that supporters could take part in a “Very 2020 Race for Life” by themselves or in small socially distanced groups in their local parks and neighbourhoods, but with the intention of creating a collective feeling that thousands of other people were taking part around the UK.
The charity will also host a live event on its Facebook page from 9.30am on 26 September, offering a warm up, followed by a minute’s silence to remember family and friends who have died or are undergoing treatment.
Participants can complete their 5km straight after the Facebook live event, that weekend or throughout September, whichever is convenient for them.
The campaign, which will use the slogan “Nothing’s going to stop us running, walking and jogging to raise money and to help beat cancer”, was devised with creative agency Anomaly.
Sarah Pickersgill, head of Race for Life marketing, said that although the coronavirus pandemic had stopped the charity’s mass event series this year, the race must go on.
“A Very 2020 Race for Life highlights that even though plans have changed, and we have to race differently in 2020,” she said.
“Our mission to beat cancer has never been more urgent and it’s only with the public’s support that we’ll be able to continue funding our vital work.”