A CHARITY is appealing to women across the region to send in thousands of pounds they have raised to help fight cancer.

More than 40 per cent of women who took part in seven Race for Life events across the North-East and North Yorkshire in the summer have not yet retur-ned their sponsorship cash to Cancer Research UK.

Janet Cooper, national events executive, said: "Events in the North-East and North Yorkshire raised an amazing £814,069 in 2004.

"Although this is a fantastic achievement, only 59 per cent of women taking part have sent us their sponsorship money.

"We realise this is a busy time of the year, but would like to appeal to participants to send in their funds to Cancer Research UK if they have not already done so."

During the year, more than 18,000 women took part in Race for Life events in the region.

All ran, walked or jogged 5km.

So far, 62 per cent of women in Middlesbrough, 61 per cent in York, 61 per cent in Harrogate, 60 in Sunderland, 59 per cent in Darlington, 57 per cent in Newcastle and 54 per cent of women in Gateshead, have returned their sponsorship.

There will be races at all these venues next year and in addition there will be a race in Scarborough, North Yorkshire, which aims to attract 2,000 women.

Ms Cooper urged people to run again next year - and register online from February to save the charity administration costs.

There were no figures for sponsorship returned from the Great North Run, but a Cancer Research UK spok-esman said not all of the 3,000 people who ran in aid of the charity had sent in their money.

* For the Race for Life, go to www.raceforlife.org