A GIANT Race for Life wall which honours a Chester woman has gone up at Brio Leisure Northgate Arena, to encourage people to take part in this year's fundraising event.

Emily Owen, a volunteer will feature on the giant Race for Life wall to encourage people in the town to sign up for this year’s Cancer Research UK Race for Life 5K events on July 7.

One of the Race for Life 5K events will take place in Chester, while other fundraisers will be held at Cholmondeley Castle and Tatton Park in June and July.

Emily’s personal story and motivation behind their participation in Race for Life will be displayed on a giant back sign at the venue – like the signs worn by participants on their backs and a key element of both the events and this year’s campaign.

The wall is designed to mirror the hugely emotional reflection area set up on event day, where participants come together to remember loved ones lost to cancer, celebrate the lives of those dear to them who have survived or support those going through treatment.

Emily will also feature in a social media campaign with posts on the Cancer Research UK’s North West Events Twitter account (@CRUKEventsNW).

When asked what Race for Life events mean to them, Emily explained: “one step closer to finder a cure for cancer and keeping loved ones together for longer”.

To those who have not yet signed up, she urges them to do so, adding: “Get a group of friends and supporters there on the day to give you energy, it’s a fun filled day for a good cause”.

Polly O'Gorman, Cancer Research UK’s Chester event manager, said: “We’re very grateful to Emily for their support with this campaign. By following Emily’s lead and joining the Race for Life in Chester, people can make a real difference in the fight against cancer.

“Our Race for Life events are fun, colourful, emotional and uplifting. You don’t need to be sporty to take part. You don’t have to train, and you certainly don’t need to compete against anyone else.

"It’s a perfect example of everyday people doing an extraordinary thing – uniting in a common cause to beat cancer.”

Polly added: “We encourage our participants to help raise money in whatever way they like – there are lots of ideas on the Race for Life website.”

One in two people in the UK will be diagnosed with cancer at some stage in their lives, but the good news is more people are surviving the disease now than ever before.

Cancer survival in the UK has doubled since the early 1970s and Cancer Research UK’s work has been at the heart of that progress.

Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life, in partnership with Tesco, is an inspiring series of 5k, 10k, Pretty Muddy and Pretty Muddy Kids events which raise millions of pounds every year to help beat cancer by funding crucial research.

This year, for the first time, Cancer Research UK is inviting everyone – women, men and children – to join the Race for Life.

The Chester event will be held at Chester Racecourse on Sunday, July 7.

To join Race for Life, visit raceforlife.org or call 0300 123 0770.