Sporting celebrities go head to head for breast cancer research

3/12/2012 9:38 AM EST

Rugby seven’s Chris Cracknell to lead the Boys into battle against fitness expert Sarah Maxwell’s Girls for Breast Cancer Campaign’s new fundraising race

Rugby sevens player, Chris Cracknell, and international fitness and lifestyle expert, Sarah Maxwell, are calling on girls and boys of all ages to get ready, get set and BE PART OF THE CURE for breast cancer. The pair are taking part in Girls vs Boys, a 5k race in Southwark Park, London, on Sunday 20 May.

Cracknell will be captaining the Boys, and the race – in aid of Breast Cancer Campaign – will raise money for research to support the 48,000 women, and 340 men, who are diagnosed with the disease every year.

Girls v Boys is a 5k race with a difference. Runners will compete against partners of the opposite sex, with both aiming to outdo each other with their race times and fundraising. International sportsman Chris says: “Boys like nothing more than a healthy dose of competition, which is why I’m supporting Girls vs Boys. There’s no way that the Girls can win, but I want to make sure – so I am calling for reinforcements.

“The event’s going to be good fun, and it’s for a very serious cause. Both sexes can be affected by breast cancer, which is why we need as many Girls and Boys as possible to sign up. Every penny raised will go towards Campaign’s work funding world-class research into the causes and development of breast cancer,” Chris added.

Hundreds of competitors are expected to battle it out to determine the better sex and international fitness and lifestyle expert Sarah Maxwell, who is leading the Girls team, says: “I’m quite a competitive person so I was really excited to be asked to get involved with Girls vs Boys. I already know that the Girls are going to win, but I want to encourage as many people as possible to get signed up and have fun raising money for breast cancer research.

“Breast cancer doesn’t just affect women so this is a chance for everyone to help Breast Cancer Campaign fund research which enables scientists to better understand how to prevent, diagnose, treat and ultimately cure breast cancer,” added Sarah.

Registering for Girls vs Boys costs just £10 and covers the cost of running the event. Participants will receive a t-shirt and goodie bag and each runner should commit to raising at least £50 in sponsorship, which will support the research projects Breast Cancer Campaign funds across the UK and Ireland.

“We need both sexes to take on the challenge and BE PART OF THE CURE,” comments Anna Scalera, National Events Manager at Breast Cancer Campaign. “Money raised through Girls vs Boys will make a huge difference to our work, funding innovative scientific research that will help us find the cure.”

For more information about Girls vs Boys, or register to take part in the race, please visit www.breastcancercampaign.org/girlsvsboys or call 020 7749 4114.