The other day I walked through my kitchen and saw a bunch of forms my sister had picked up as part of the paperwork for the 'Race for Life', Cancer Reasearch UK's women-only 5 kilometer fundraiser.
It got me thinking, and I could not help but find it slightly odd to have such an event...I know that there is an equivalent race for men-only, ' Run for Moore', but as far as I can tell, that doesn't have the same publicity, and to be frank, why should it? The very title of the women's 'Race for Life' seems to hold far more gravitas, and what's more, the funds received in the equivalent male event go exclusively towards bowel cancer, wheras the women's event goes towards cancer research as a whole. In my mind these two factors are probably indicative of the 'Race for Life' being a far more high profile event that the 'Run for Moore.'
If this is the case, my question is, is it right to promote an event like 'Race for Life' as exclusively women only when it has enough media attention and public recognition to justify shedding the novelty value of a single-sex event?
Surely if men were allowed to race in 'Race for Life' then that could only produce more funds for charity. As it is I would imagine many males might not race in their own 'Run for Moore' as it is not as well known; and even were they to know of the event, by making proceeds go to bowel cancer only, the event might seem less applicable to many people.
I recognise women's rights to support causes, but I am dubious as to whether the division of events for different sexes is the best way to attract the most sponsorship.
Thoughts please