Women of all ages are being urged to take up the challenge of signing up for Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life this year.

Regardless of age or size, women can sign up for the charity runs, which are held at four different parks across the county in 2017.

Race for Life events will be held at Great Lines Heritage Park, Gillingham on Sunday, May 21; at Mote Park, Maidstone, on Saturday, July 8 and Sunday, July 9; at Palm Bay, Margate, on Sunday, July 16 and at the seafront on Hampton Pier, Herne Bay, on Sunday, June 25.

Event manager Sarah-Jane Winding said: “Signing up to take part in Race for Life is a great way for women to set themselves a new and exciting challenge for 2017.

“Race for Life events are non-competitive and participants can choose to walk, jog or run around the course. Whether they plan to amble with friends or sprint to the finish line, every step they take will help to bring forward the day when all cancers are cured.

“Every day, 130 people are diagnosed with cancer in the South East*. That’s why we’re calling on women in Kent to make 2017 a year to remember. Together, we can stop this devastating disease in its tracks.”

The Gillingham event will be a 5K at Great Lines Heritage Park on Sunday, May 21, while the Herne Bay events will include 5K and 10K events on Hampton Pier.

A 5K event will be at Palm Bay, Margate, will be on Sunday, July 16, while at Mote Park, Maidstone, 5K and 10K events will be on Saturday, July 8, with a Pretty Muddy event scheduled for Sunday, July 9.

One in two people in the UK will be diagnosed with cancer at some stage in their lives, although more people are surviving the disease now than ever before. Survival rates have doubled since the early 1970s.

This year's Race for Life is in partnership with Tesco, and raises funds for lifesaving research to help beat cancer.

To enter the races, visit raceforlife.org or call 0300 123 0770.