DETERMINED fundraisers in Colchester are set to carry on a charity race at home after the town's race was postponed.

Organisers Cancer Resarch Uk have postponed the Race for Life run, which usually takes place in the summer, due to safety concerns brought on by the pandemic.

Colchester had been set to host a Race for Life event which would have seen residents take to the streets and run as much as ten kilometres to raise cash for the fight against cancer.

Other events in Chelmsford, Basildon, Brentwood, Epping, Harlow and Southend-on-Sea have also been axed until the autumn.

Cancer Research UK say the pandemic has crippled fundraising efforts and predict a £300 million drop in income over the next three years.

But residents in Colchester a vowing to still raise funds for the charity by completing their own Race for Life five kilometre challenge this April.

The charity say residents plan to take to the town's green spaces to take part in the challenge outdoors - either alone or in small, socially distanced groups to help people with cancer.

Patrick Keely, Cancer Research UK’s spokesman for Essex, said: “Even whilst we’re still apart, we can unite against cancer.

“There are a million reasons to Race for Life at Home, to help save lives, for those who have had vital treatment delayed or just for a reason to get off the sofa.

!We want people to run, walk or jog five kilometres and raise money for life-saving research.

“The truth is, Covid-19 has slowed us down. But we will never stop and we are absolutely determined to continue to create better cancer treatments for tomorrow. 

"But we can’t do it alone. Sadly, cancer touches almost every family at some point. 

"Every step our scientists take towards beating cancer relies on our supporters. 

"That’s why we need as many people as possible across Essex to join us, to stand united and do something extraordinary to help beat cancer.”  

The charity's Race for Life campaign, which has been in partnership with Tesco for 20 years, usually sees residents take on either three, five or ten kilometre runs as well as some children events.

The runs are said to raise millions each year for cancer research.

Organisers are also inviting participants to share photos and videos on social media using the hashtag #RaceatHome

Patrick Keely added: “We’re constantly monitoring the Covid-19 situation and are working hard to move our mass participation Race for Life events to the autumn and to make sure they can go ahead safely and with all necessary Covid-19 guidelines in place.

“We’d love to invite as many people as possible to Race for Life at Home this spring, then physically come together in the autumn to join us for Race for Life Essex.”

People can visit raceforlife.org to enter Race for Life at Home for £5 where they will then receive a race pack which includes a medal.  

The events are open to all ages and abilities.