IT'S back and with a brand new slogan in a bid to get hundreds of women together for Hereford's second Race for Life in July.

The new message - Many women, one reason - speaks volumes as participants from all over the county prepare for another poignant event to help cure cancer by raising money for Cancer Research UK.

After last year's phenomenal success, with £49,500 raised, organisers hope yet more women of all ages and fitness will take part in the event billed for Hereford Leisure Centre on Sunday, July 18.

Race for Life, the women-only 5km walk or run, attracts around 325,000 mums, daughters, aunties, grandmothers and nieces to 150 events nationally.

Last year, Hereford hosted its very first event and 950 women, each and every one motivated by their own experience of cancer or its effects, pounded their way round the city's Racecourse.

Race organiser Nic Clarke said: "I think Race for Life is amazing. Over one million women across the UK have taken part in Race for Life since it first started and every single person has made a real difference to Cancer Research UK's vital work.

"The atmosphere at Hereford was fantastic."

Now approaching its 11th year, Race for Life originally began to raise awareness specifically for women's cancer.

Although nowadays, every penny goes to researching cancer generally, Race for Life still remains exclusively a women-only event adding to the very special atmosphere on the day.

As well as its commitment to curing cancer by understanding its causes, investigations treatments and prevention, Cancer Research UK also aims to provide support to cancer patients and their families.

Dr Lesley Walker, director of cancer information for Cancer Research UK, said: "More than one in three people in the UK will develop cancer at some point in their lifetime and one in four will die from the disease.

"The only thing that will improve these figures is research - by taking part in Race for Life, women everywhere will be actively taking part in advance research which will save lives."

Entry forms are available from February 23 from Cancer Research UK shops, Tesco stores, leisure centres, libraries and doctors surgeries.

For details call the Race for Life hotline on 08750 134314 or log on to www.raceforlife.org or www.cancerresearchuk.org