WOMEN from all walks of life are aiming to take a great stride forward to help cancer victims.

International runner Audrey Foster, and teams from Tesco and the Bolton Evening News have come together to launch Cancer Research UK's Race for Life being held in Bolton for the first time.

Race for Life is a unique series of events across the UK, where women walk or run 5km (3.1 miles) to raise funds for Cancer Research UK.

Race for Life will be held in Bolton at Leverhulme Park on Sunday June 22 at 11am and organisers hope more than 1,000 women will take part.

Yesterday, as balloons were released to the sound of cheers, Audrey Foster helped launch the race at the Tesco Extra store in Horwich.

The Horwich RMI Harriers ladies cross country captain who has run for England and in the British Masters, said: "Cancer attacks indiscriminately, across all ages and social classes. You don't know who it is going to strike next. We need as much research as possible."

Audrey, aged 52, has been a runner for 20 years and she praised the way the race encourages people to take part.

This year's event, backed by Tesco, the Bolton Evening News and Tower FM is one of 130 held at different venues throughout the UK between May and July.

Organiser Dave Martin said: "Last year more than 250,000 women of all ages and fitness abilities took part in the races.

"Mums, daughters, sisters and friends joined together in memory or in celebration of somebody who had been touched by the disease and raised more than £15 million for research into cancers that affect women's lives."

A 46-strong team from the Horwich branch of Tesco will be taking part in the race. Last year they raised more than £1,000 in the Race for Life in Preston and are hoping to top that figure this year. Cashier Audrey Heaton, aged 41, said: "I think most families have some connection with cancer. Many people are running in memory of someone. We just knew that we had to get involved."

Anyone who wants to take part in the race should call the Race for Life hotline on 08705 134 314 or log on to www.raceforlife.org

It costs £7.50 for women to enter and £4.50 for girls under 18. It can be paid by switch, credit card or by cheque. Postal entries can be sent to Race For Life, PO Box 50, Crawley, RH10 9WA.

There is not a minimum sponsorship amount required, but as this is a fundraising event organisers would be pleased if every woman raised more than £50.

Race for Life began in 1993 and since then, more than 700,000 women have helped raise more than £35 million.

Cancer Research UK's Race for Life is supported by Tesco as National Presenting Sponsor.

Other sponsors and National Media Partners include Buxton, Nivea, Soreen, Essentials, Now, Runners World and ivillage.co.uk.