AN APPEAL has been made to Race For Life runners after it was revealed less than half of the sponsorship money has been sent in.

Only 38 per cent of those who took part in the event on Knavesmire, in York, have so far sent their money to Cancer Research UK.

The charity has said if everyone sends in their money now it could double the amount raised.

Janet Cooper, from Cancer Research UK, said sponsorship money already collected totalled £148,859. 24.

She said: "This is a wonderful total, but we still need the remaining 61 per cent to send in their money to help Cancer Research UK reach their target this year of £17.5 million."

A record number of more than 5,000 women ran and walked the five-kilometre race on Knavesmire in May this year.

Mums, daughters, sisters and friends joined together in memory or celebration of somebody that had been touched by the disease.

Participants included brave sisters Christine Bellerby, 46, Susan Fairley, 53, and Allyson Brett, 41, who were running just a day after their mother Sylvia Try died from the disease.

Last year the event raised £15 million nationally, and organisers have set a target of £17.5 this year.

Race For Life director Rachel Roxburgh said: "This is a good example of the importance of looking after the pennies and the pounds looking after themselves.

"If everyone collects the £5 and £10 that friends and family have promised we could almost double the money raised today - every single pound helps."

Sponsorship can be paid online at www.cancerresearchuk.org, by calling the hotline on 08705134314 or by sending sponsor forms with a cheque to Race for Life, PO Box 50, Crawley, RH10 9WA.

Updated: 08:43 Friday, July 25, 2003