THE Press has won a national award in recognition of its work in the fight against cancer.

After last year's successful Race For Life event in York, Cancer Research UK decided that The Press was the newspaper in England that had given the most outstanding contribution to highlighting the event.

Leading up to the five kilometre race in August we carried a string of regular articles focusing on local women taking part, and telling their stories.

We also ran a Race For Life competition - giving our readers the chance to win the coveted number one race number.

A team of reporters and photographers attended the event itself and produced a 24-page race supplement for the following day's edition.

Our coverage of the event even caused a stir in the Mediterranean, after a Maltese journalist spotted on The Press website that 13-year-old Sophie Stockton, of Fulford School, in York, was due to run the race while holidaying on the island.

Last year's Race For Life organiser in York, Stuart Leslie, said: "Cancer Research UK's Race for Life Awards are presented for outstanding contribution and achievement from our volunteers and supporters, and I am delighted that The Press has been recognised for both their dedication and high-quality reporting as a media partner in 2007.

"The paper's range of event coverage impressed the judges and I am proud to congratulate everybody at The Press on their success in winning this award."

He said our detailed information on the weather-related postponements had also made The Press stand out from other newspapers.

Torrential rain caused the event to be postponed twice, but eventually nearly 6,000 women packed on to Knavesmire on August 26.

Race organisers were hoping last year's event would raise £496,000 for Cancer Research UK - and the final total is due to be announced next month.

The money will fund life-saving cancer research, which is carried out by 3,500 scientists, doctors and nurses across the country.

Editor of The Press Kevin Booth said: "We're delighted to be able to play a part in making the York Race For Life as successful as it is and our commitment to the event will continue this year and onwards."

An awards ceremony will take place at The Dorchester Hotel, in London, next month.