MUMS and daughters are being urged to mark Mother’s Day by signing up to run this year’s Race for Life together.

The charity run is returning to Glouctester Park, Basildon, and Garon Park, Southend, in June, giving mothers and daughters a chance to spend quality time training together while raising money for a good cause.

Entrants can take part in 5k, 10k or Pretty Muddy obstacle course races.

They can walk, jog, run or even dance their way through the allfemale event, which is organised by and in aid of Cancer Research UK.

Gill Burgess, Race for Life event manager in Essex, said: “We are urging women in Basildon and Southend to give their mums the gift of time this Mother’s Day, by signing up to Race for Life together. The feelgood factor that comes from being part of the formidable army of women ready to show cancer who’s boss will last far longer than the more traditional Mother’s Day gifts of chocolates and flowers.

“Race for Life events are not competitive. They are not about being fit or fast. Some women might worry about standing alongside runners decked out in lycra, but nothing could be further from the truth.

“The reality on the day is that participants of all shapes, sizes and ages generate an electric energy as they unite in their determination to defeat cancer.”

Last year 22,301 women took part in Race for Life events across Essex, raising more than £1.4million.

Thanks to research into cancer, survival rates have doubled in the past 40 years, despite the number of people being diagnosed going up.

This year's Southend Race for Life takes place on Sunday, June 15.

The Pretty Muddy event takes place in Basildon on Saturday, June 28 with the Race for Life being held on Sunday, June 29.

For more information visit www.raceforlife.org or call 0845 600 6050.