NEWS FROM CANCER RESEARCH UK

HITTING THE HIGH NOTES: UK WOMEN AND CELEBRITIES UNITE FOR CHARITY RECORD
Cancer Research UK re-release ‘Girls Just Want To Have Fun’ to launch Race for Life 2010

Hundreds of women from across the UK have joined over 20 celebrities to record a unique charity single in aid of Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life. The track, led by DJ and singer Sonique, who is currently undergoing treatment for breast cancer, is a remake of Cyndi Lauper’s 1980s classic ‘Girls Just Want To Have Fun.’ The single, due to be released on the 26th April to mark the start of Race for Life – the UK’s largest women-only fundraising series, will be sold exclusively by official Race for Life partner Tesco and available to download on iTunes, with proceeds going directly to help beat cancer.

Sonique, whose lines on the track see her returning to the microphone for the first time since her diagnosis last June, is joined on the song by a host of female celebrities including Coronation Street‘s Kym Marsh, actress Caroline Quentin, Big Brother star Nicola T and the X-Factor’s Lucie Jones. The track also features a number of inspirational women who have been personally affected by cancer, as well as the contributions of women from around the UK, captured by mobile producers who have been touring shopping centres over the last six weeks.

Sonique said: “Girls Just Want To Have Fun” really embodies the spirit of Race for Life because, although there’s a serious message behind the activity, it really does feel like the ultimate girls’ day out. The fact that any woman, no matter how good their voice is, has been able to get involved is brilliant and really captures the essence of Race for Life. It’s not competitive and women of all ages, shapes and sizes can take part. I’d urge every woman to sign up for an event this year!”

Denya Dessena, a breast cancer survivor aged 40 from Crawley, who recorded her lines for the track this weekend, said: “ I loved every minute of my day in the recording studio – if you’d have told me a few months ago that I was going to record a single with so many famous singers, I’d have said you were mad! It’s great to come together with so many different women to take part in this, because cancer is something that doesn’t discriminate - it can affect women from all walks of life, regardless of age, money or status. It’s been great fun recording the single and I would love for it to go to number one so that we can raise as much money as possible for Cancer Research UK.”

Now in its 17th year, Race for Life is the UK’s largest women-only fundraising series, with over 230 events taking place this summer. Women from across the UK come together to simply walk, jog or run 5k and raise money to help beat cancer. Since Race for Life began in 1994, there has been a 15 per cent drop in the death rate from cancer, something that money raised from Race for Life has helped to achieve. This year the charity is hoping over 700,000 women come together to raise an incredible £60 million to fund Cancer Research UK’s life saving work.

Each Race for Life event covers a distance of 5k and Cancer Research UK is encouraging women of all ages and levels of fitness to participate. To sign up for a Race for Life event and for more information on how to take part in the ‘Girls Just Wanna Have Fun’ single, go to www.raceforlife.org

’Girls Just Want To Have Fun’, in aid of Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life, will be released in late April and will be sold exclusively in over 800 Tesco stores and available to download on iTunes. Tesco has been a proud partner of Race for Life since 2002 and during the past nine years over 152,000 female members of staff have taken part, raising over an incredible £5.6 million to support Cancer Research UK.

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For more press information or images please contact Frank PR on 020 7693 6999/ 0781 309 5242 or email cancerresearchuk@frankpr.it

* Interviews with selected celebrities and case studies are available upon request


Notes to Editors

About Sonique and her cancer experience:

Sonique (real name Sonia Clarke), aged 41, is a British singer and DJ who is currently being treated for breast cancer. Sonique was diagnosed less than a year ago in May 2009. After a biopsy, it was revealed that the disease had spread to the lymph nodes under her arms and she was rushed straight into hospital for an operation to remove both the lump and lymph nodes. A week later Sonique had another operation to remove further tissue, which was then followed by five months of intensive chemotherapy that finished two months ago in November. Soon after this, doctors recommended that Sonique went though her third operation to remove additional tissue as a preventative measure. January and February will see Sonique go through six weeks of preventative radiotherapy which will hopefully signify the end of her cancer journey.

‘Girls Just Want To Have Fun’ celebrity contributors (to date) include:

• Sonique, 41, British DJ and singer
• Lucie Jones, 18, X Factor Finalist 2009
• Nicola Tappenden, 27, Model and Celebrity Big Brother contestant
• Caroline Quentin, 49, actress
• Carol Decker, 53, British Recording Artist (80’s band T’Pau)
• Kym Marsh, 34, Actress/singer
• Nina Wadia, 42, Eastenders actress
• Danielle Lloyd, 27, British glamour model
• Lucy Benjamin, 40, Actress
• Su-Elise Nash, 29, British singer who found fame in girlband Mis-Teeq
• Cheeky Girls, aka, Gabriella and Monica Irimia, both 28, female duo
• Lisa Scott-Lee, 35, British recording artist
• The Hollyoaks Girls -Nicole Barber-lane, Dominique Jackson – plays Lauren Valentine, Melissa Walton – plays Loretta Jones, Jorgie Porter – plays Teresa McQueen, Nicole Barber-Lane - plays Myra McQueen, Alice Barlow – plays Rae, Loui Bately – played Sarah Barnes
• Rebekah Gibbs, 34, actress
• Jaime Jay, 27, British singer
• Kelli Young, 29, Singer who found fame with pop band Liberty X
• Zoe Salmon, 30, TV presenter

About Cancer Research UK:

• Together with its partners and supporters, Cancer Research UK’s vision is to beat cancer
• Cancer Research UK carries out world-class research to improve understanding of the disease and find out how to prevent, diagnose and treat different kinds of cancer
• Cancer Research UK ensures that its findings are used to improve the lives of all cancer patients
• Cancer Research UK helps people to understand cancer, the progress that is being made and the choices each person can make
• Cancer Research UK works in partnership with others to achieve the greatest impact in the global fight against cancer
• For further information about Cancer Research UK’s work or to find out how to support the charity, please call 020 7009 8820 or visit

www.cancerresearchuk.org.uk