This may be controversial as I realise that Race for Life is a well meaning, fun event but does anyone else think that it is quite seriously sexist? If it was men only there would be uproar but apparently being women only is acceptable?? My point is that both sexes suffer from cancer and both sexes are affected by cancer so why can only one sex support this initiative? As someone who has suffered from Prostate Cancer and who has been touched by a relative with Breast Cancer I would like to take part in such an event. It seems to me that the organisers are simply turning away fund raisers by excluding 50% of the population.

Hi Bobby

The Bobby Moore 5k is just for men why dont you look out for a race near you

http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/bobb...ore/?version=1

Its all with the same charity organisers as Race for life.

Check it out.

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Are we there Yet

I agree. I just think charities should be trying to raise as much money possible, and having a women's only event serves to reduce the funds and alienates a lot of people.

I would take part in this also but I also have testicles.

There isnt a Bobby Moore race within 300 miles of me, but there is a dozen Race for life ones.

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Acta Non Verba

They do a men only one as well? What's the point? Why not combine them and raise more money? And why does the mens event get less publicity?

It seems to me that charities should be concentrating on raising as much money as possible as this does not do so. But this subject is very close to my heart as I am still disgusted with how little coverage and education there is on the topic of Prostate Cancer - once again us men are deemed less important.

Im a bloke and i have a better understanding of breast cancer and the hormanal reasons for it....than i do about prostate cancer. I dont even have anyone in my family etc who has had this problem. This highlights your point above mate.

I best smarten up!

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Acta Non Verba

I don't understand it at all, and I've just participated in one. It's about all cancer, not even about women-specific cancers, so why on earth is it women-only?

Reading the back-signs of the women there, an enormous number of them (myself included) were doing it for/because of a male relative or friend.

I simply don't get it and I'd much prefer it to be an event where everyone was welcome to join in.

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I feel good... da da da da da da

Exactly my point. I don't mean to get on my high horse here but it really does seem that men are deemed as second class citizens when it comes to cancer education. And it's not just men - in the same way that men need educating about breast cancer (and indeed can suffer from it) as relatives may well suffer it at some stage, women also need the same education about prostate cancer. Check out the figures on the number of sufferers and it's frightening how little coverage it gets.

The sexist nature of Race for Life just goes to prove this theory - as stated above there is a men only event too but seriously who has actually heard of it or seen it all over TV in the way the women's event is? The event website states that it is women only at the request of their participants - I personally find this a little hard to believe but maybe some of the ladies on here agree or disagree? I'm intrigued.

Well, they didn't ask me!

Maybe I should just tell them what I think and not wait to be asked...

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I feel good... da da da da da da

Thank you Bagpuddycat that was the sort of reaction I was expecting.

This thread is not intended to have a go at women at all, quite the opposite - I am just questioning the organisers of these events as it seems women agree with me. Personally, through my experiences and because of my views on this subject I now run every race for a different, well known cancer charity. I think Cancer Research UK may find that is the same for a lot of men!

I think it is probably because a woman somewhere, had the drive and determination to get something like this going and put in a hell of a lot of work to make it all happen. Would yet another mixed gender charity race have had such a huge amount of publicity and entrants? I expect there are plenty of women who feel a lot more comfortable running with just women?

My mum has cancer at the moment, I had thought of entering by pushing her around in her wheelchair but wondered if I would be set upon by a mob of baying women for turning up with testosterone in my bloodstream I will see if there is a BM run near me in future.

I do agree it would be nice to be able to enter, and would perhaps have been good to have 2 races for life, one for men and one for women...

Perhaps somewhere there is a bloke with the vision and drive to get something on an equal scale organised just for men.

let's get cracking

Whats the reason for It being a women only race?

Possibly as allot of women wouldnt be comfy running along side men for whatever reason....possibly encourages more women to take part.

Fair enough i say, but they should hold a mens race on ALL the same tracks as the women.

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Acta Non Verba

Well I did the race for life, it was quite nice all the girls together actually, getting away from our kitchen sinks

...I trust the washing up still had to be done when you got in!

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You know you're right, and I wasn't bloody pleased either