NO GIRLS allowed is the message from organisers of a new charity run taking place in York this summer.

The men-only 5k is the idea of two members of York Knavesmire Harriers running club, who felt that lads fell way behind women when it came to recognising and getting help for gender-specific cancers.

The R U Taking The P? run has the backing of Yorkshire Cancer research and Nestlé, and will raise money for research into prostate cancer and other serious male health conditions.

Co-organiser Brian Hughes, 57, said the idea came to him after a good friend had to undergo a prostatectomy only weeks after losing his wife to cancer at Christmas.

Mr Hughes said: “I thought that blokes don’t think about these things. They just put their head down and ignore it.

“I want to make it a bit of fun because we just don’t talk about cancer like women do.

“So I want to see how many men we can get running – I’m hoping for a thousand guys.”

Preparations for the event on Father’s Day are already well under way and the race has the backing of Nestlé in York, which is donating Yorkie bars to the runners, as well as £500 to cancer charities in the region.

Banners and race numbers are being provided by the Run In England organisation. Fellow race organiser and Harriers member, Richard Smith, 58, said: “It’s a run rather than a race, because we want everyone to take part. City of York Council is very kindly letting us use Rowntree Park.”

The run will start from the Millennium Bridge and continue along the side of the River Ouse to Castle Gardens before finishing at Rowntree Park.

It takes place at 10am in Rowntree Park on Sunday, June 20. For application forms, phone Brian on 01904 656427.

The closing date for entries is June 6.