Norfolk women are being urged to join forces and sign up to this year's Race for Life events to help find new treatments for cancer.

Cancer Research UK is calling on women of all ages, shapes and sizes, to defy cancer by entering the charity's 5k or 10k events at the Norfolk Showground on Saturday May 17 and Sunday May 18.

The charity is also staging a Race for Life at Houghton Hall, near Fakenham, on Tuesday, July 22.

Event organisers are issuing the rallying call urging women to sign up as soon as possible after registration opened for the 2014 events this week.

Last year, 6,972 women took part in Race for Life in Norfolk and raised £457,084. This year, organisers are hoping 7,300 women and girls will take part. Every day, 83 people are diagnosed with cancer in the East of England.

Gemma Turpin, Cancer Research UK's Norfolk events manager, said: 'We're calling on Norfolk's mighty-mums, gutsy-grans, feisty friends and go-getting girls to join our formidable army and take on cancer at this year's Race for Life.'

'We know how committed Norfolk women can be when they really make up their minds to do something. We want to harness that power to stop cancer in its tracks, by raising money for lifesaving research.

'Race for Life is non-competitive. It's not about being fit or fast. Most women are able to walk 5k in an hour while chatting and having fun. Or they can choose to jog, run or even dance around the course if they prefer.'

Money raised through Race for Life allows Cancer Research UK's doctors, nurses and scientists to advance research into the more than 200 forms of cancer. The charity receives no government funding for its ground-breaking work.

To enter Race for Life, visit www.raceforlife.org or call 0845 600 6050.

Have you beaten cancer? Contact health correspondent Adam Gretton on 01603 772419 or email adam.gretton@archant.co.uk