Race for Life 2004

allpay.net put its expertise in collecting payments to good use and for a good cause when 24 of its female members of staff recently gathered £1,500 sponsorship money together as they prepared to compete in the fundraising phenomenon that is Cancer Research UK's Race for Life.

Tony Killeen, allpay.net's Managing Director and Founder, was more than happy to cover the entry fee for any member of his staff willing to take part.

"Research into cancer is vital as it helps to prolong and save lives. I am keen for everybody to be involved with sport and fitness as well as supporting charities so this seems an ideal fundraiser for us to get involved in."

The ladies of allpay.net joined nearly 3,000 other competitors at Hereford Racecourse on Sunday 18th July to take part in the 5km race.

For some of the members of allpay.net's staff, Race for Life was a test of their physical endurance. Other members of the allpay.net group joined in with the Race for Life festivities for the fun of it.

Marion Mogg, one of allpay.net's Customer Services Executives, took part in Race for Life in 2003 and returned for a second year as she enjoyed the atmosphere so much first time around:

"All the other female competitors are encouraging and friendly. The fact that no men take part makes all the difference I think. There is no competitive edge to the event and everyone just wants to have a good time and raise a few pounds to help Cancer Research UK. Most people have been affected by the disease in some way, either personally or through loved ones."

Whatever the reason for taking up the challenge, each participant shares one common goal. Rose Privett, team captain of the allpay.net group, explained, "Everybody knows somebody who has been touched by cancer."

Rose herself has been affected emotionally by the trauma that cancer entails; Rose's own Aunt Joan, who was more like a surrogate mother, died of cancer when Rose was only small. Doctors at the time did not have the technology to detect her condition until it was too late.

"Cancer Research UK is such an important charity to fund because the money goes towards research and development, studying the many forms that cancer can take and investigating new treatments. Compared to years ago, doctors today have a mountain of knowledge because of charities like Cancer Research UK so the mistakes that were made with my Aunt are hopefully now avoided in most cases."

Apart from the physical test of the race itself, the allpay.net girls hope that their efforts went some way towards beating last year's Hereford Race for Life sponsorship total of £48,000.