AN ANNUAL series of road races in which women raise cash for cancer research will include two new events this year.

Race for Life events take place across the North-East and the rest of the UK to raise cash for Cancer Research UK, the new charity formed by the recent amalgamation of the Cancer Research Campaign and Imperial Cancer Research Fund.

This year, races will be held for the first time in Darlington and Harrogate, North Yorkshire, as well as those already established in Gateshead, Middlesbrough, Sunderland and York.

With new races being added, 100 events will take place nationwide for the first time.

In the past, some races have attracted up to 6,500 competitors, raising thousands of pounds for research into cancer, particularly those types of cancer which affect women.

Each year, about 130,000 women are touched by cancer in some way.

This year, Cancer Research UK has brought the Tesco store chain on board as national sponsor, and Magic 1170 is a media sponsor for the North-East.

The races are three miles long and people are expected to take less than an hour to complete the course.

Race for Life national events executive Dave Martin said: "It's only an hour out of your life to raise money for cancer research."

Women of all ages are allowed to take part, and it has been known for up to four generations of one family to get involved.

The Darlington event will be held in South Park, at 11am, on Sunday, July 14, and the Harrogate race will be in the Great Yorkshire Showground, at 7pm, on Wednesday, July 24.

Events in the region start at The Knavesmire, York Racecourse, on Sunday, May 19, at 11am.

The other events are at Saltwell Park, Gateshead, on Sunday, May 26, at 11am; Ormesby Hall, Middlesbrough, on Saturday, June 29, at 2pm; and at Silksworth Sports Complex, Sunderland, on Sunday, June 16, at 11am.

Entries can be taken online at www.raceforlife.co.uk. Further details are available on 08705 134314.