Seasonal Sports Event Opportunities

Race for Life is Cancer Research UK’s biggest series of fundraising events. Taking place across the UK, the events include 3k, 5k and 10k routes as well as our Pretty Muddy obstacle events. 

Race for Life started 31 years ago as a women-only event. The first event was held in Battersea, in 1994, where 750 participants raised £48,000. Since that point, Race for Life has grown into a series of hundreds of events across the country, raising over £940 million towards beating cancer over the last quarter of a century.

In 2019, for the first time, the Race for Life opened it's doors to men to participate too, making it a truly inclusive event, giving people the chance to come together with their family and friends, and join the movement to help beat cancer. 

Shine Night Walk is Cancer Research UK's marathon, half marathon and 10k night walk, bringing people from across the UK together to light up London and fund life-saving research. In 2023 we had 12,500 participants taking part, raising over £2,300,000. It’s an amazing event that staff, volunteers and participants love. 

Shine Night Walk 10k has also been introduced in 17 cities across the UK which gathers thousands of people to experience a night like no other.

Our Sports team have over 140 events that they work on all year round. All of these events are organised by other third-party event organisers rather than Cancer Research UK. These events range from cycling, swimming, triathlon, marathon (including of course the London Marathon) events and many more, they are also nationwide.

The Sports team work with our participants that sign up to these events to encourage them to raise money for Cancer Research UK, support them in their training and on the day we welcome them to the event. We have cheering points where staff and volunteers go to points on the course to cheer the participants on and encourage them round the course.

Cancer Research UK also participates in a series of Big Hike events. There are also opportunities to work at these third-party organised events, supporting at pit stops, handing out water and cheering participants on.