ORGANISERS of Cancer Research UK’s Huddersfield Race for Life have put out a call for the SAS.

They want them to help at this year’s events on Saturday June 21, and Sunday June 22, at Greenhead Park

But the SAS being sought by Race for Life is their very own Special Action Squad – a team made up of ordinary local men and women who simply want to volunteer their time and energy to help make the day a huge success.

Race for Life is the UK’s largest women-only fundraising event, where mums, daughters, sisters and friends of all ages and fitness levels are invited to come together and walk, jog, or run 5k to raise money to help find better ways of treating, diagnosing and preventing cancer.

Cancer Research UK’s event manager, Jenny Key, explains: “It’s not just the 7,500 women who take part in the Huddersfield Race for Life that are important to us – without our Special Action Squad of volunteers, the event simply wouldn’t happen.

“Putting on a Race for Life event is like a major military operation which starts long before the first participants arrive and ends long after the last one crosses the finish line. There are a huge variety of important tasks that need to be done, including helping to set up the 5k course and main event area; marshalling the course; assisting in the information marquee and handing out water, goody bags and medals at the finish.

“The only thing our Race for Life SAS will be helping to fight is cancer – which will affect one in three people in the UK at some stage in their lives. And all that is needed to join our squad is enthusiasm and dedication.”

Everyone is welcome – men as well as women – of all ages and abilities. And volunteers don’t even have to know someone who is taking part in the Huddersfield Race for Life.

Jenny, along with other Cancer Research UK staff, will be there on the day to brief, guide and support members of the Huddersfield Race for Life SAS, and everyone who signs up will receive a special volunteer T-shirt to wear on the day.

Jenny said: “We can guarantee volunteers a fun, inspiring and rewarding experience. They’ll get a buzz from helping to deliver a successful event as part of a great team of like-minded people from across the local community. And they’ll also pick up organisational, communication and fundraising skills while enabling the thousands of women taking part to raise vital funds for Cancer Research UK’s pioneering work.”