The Race For Life is an annual women-only fundraiser for Cancer Research UK. It consists of a 5km (equivalent 3.3 mile) run, jog or walk at a selected venue. They typically take place in June/July across the country.

* Registration is easy, either through links on the Cancer Research website (http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/) or through the Race For Life site (http://www.raceforlife.org). By registering with the site or the Facebook group they will let you know when registration has opened - typically in January or February. It takes just a few steps to register with your details. You are also given the option of setting up a 'justgiving' style webage where people can sponsor you online, this will also send an automated thank you email to anyone does donate. You can also easily link this to your Facebook profile also.

Within weeks you will receive a pakc thoruhg the post which you must keep hold of. It contains a sponsorship form, some additional information about when you will be taking part. It also contains your number for wearing on your front and an optional additional one on which states "I race for life for...." on which you can add your own additional tribute or reason for doing it.

From then on until the race you will probably get some sporadic contact via email but there is no more contact until you get a letter a few weeks before the race which contains a charity bag in which you can put items that you want to donate on the day.

It is worth saying at this point that there is lots of information on the Race For Life site about health and training for the big day if needed as well as some information about what will happen on the day itself.

When it comes to the day itself, I would leave yourself more time than you think you need to get there as thousands of cars will be trying to get to the same place. On arriving to the main gathering area, there is normally some entertainment and music going on, generally courtesy of local radio djs. As per the advice given by Cancer Research, I would also recommend that you take a bottle of water and some suncream if it is a sunny day.

About 20 minutes before the race starts you are generally gathered as close as you can be to the front stage for an introduction by the event manager and to take a moment to reflect on the cause you are running for. Then there is a 5 minute aerobic warm up and after a few more words from the organiser, the race is due to start!

To make things easier you are split into three groups - runner, joggers and walkers who then make their way to the start line and begin accordingly. It is estimate that runners will take 20-30 minutes to complete, joggers - 30 to 45, and walkers 45 to 1.5 hours. How you progress is also dependent on the course as some have narrow bits where you have to slow to a walk due to the sheer number of people, particularly at the beginning. Otherwise there is no real pressure and you can go along at your own pace.

On completion there is a timer and there may well be a photographer taking photos as you cross the finish line from whom you can buy a photo online later (the proceeds will go to Cancer Research.) You will then get handed a medal and a gym goody bag with items from the sponsors (including vitally something like a granola bar) and a bottle of water.

I thoroughly enjoyed competing in the Race For Life and recommend it to anyone., there was a great camaraderie between everyone there and you could never forget why exactly you were running as some people really do have some poignant messages and stories to tell on their back sign.

I felt the day itself was immaculately organised and the information given prior, either by post or by email was brilliant also. In fact I could not fault any of it so much that I am planning to do it every year that I possibly can from now on.