CHARITY bosses have called on Blackburn’s ‘missing’ women to boost the numbers for next Wednesday’s Race for Life event.

Last year 2,120 people took part in the Tesco and Cancer Research challenge, raising £141,629 for the charity’s work.

Cancer Research UK hoped 3,000 ladies would sign up this year to help raise more money.

But with just a week to go until the event in Witton Park there are still 700 empty places.

Laura Taylor, Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life event manager in Blackburn, said recruitment was ‘significantly lower’ than anticipated.

She said: “If fewer women take part, there will be less money to fund research, which in turn means fewer lives saved in the future.

“We are very grateful to all the women who have already entered Race for Life in Blackburn, but we urgently need many more.

"We are appealing to the town’s ‘missing’ women. We hope they will hear our plea and register as soon as possible.”

To enter at call 0871 641 1111 or visit the website below.