THE Bournemouth Race for Life will be held on Sunday, June 19, and it will be the biggest ever.

The organisers held a launch for the ladies-only run in the square yesterday and revealed plans for a 65 per cent increase in numbers.

They hope 8,500 people will take part, compared to the 5,500 who ran last year, raising just over £300,000 for Cancer Research UK.

People can run, jog or walk, along the seafront, starting at Bournemouth Pier and heading past Boscombe Pier.

There is a 10km start at 9am, a 5km start at 11.30am, and a 5km start at 2.30pm.

Runners are urged to dress in pink and there is a party atmosphere as entrants, including cancer patients and survivors, warm up then hit the promenade.

Rachel White, 30, the event’s area manager, told the Echo yesterday: “There are no changes because it works brilliantly.

“We’re celebrating 10 years of sponsorship by Tesco by trying to make it the biggest ever and raise £80 million nationally.”

The Poole race for life is on June 26. There are also races in Dorchester on May 22, in Sherborne on June 19, and in Southampton on July 10.