| | Race for life..Page 1 of 2 (1, 2) | | I've recently seen some advertisements on television for 'Race for life',the charity fun runs in aid of cancer research and as i have a friend who has been battling cancer for a number of years,i thought i would put my name down,put on a pair of inappropiate shorts and raise a few quid..but..to my surprise,i was told i couldn't enter as..i am a man! When i enquired as to why i was not allowed to join in,the organisers told me 'it's what the participants want'...? I think that this is wrong on many levels,the least of which is that by banning men from taking part,they are restricting the amount of money that can be raised.I was also told that if i wanted to raise money for cancer research,there is a men only fun run in aid of prostate cancer,which to me,is just as discrimatory as the Race for life run...What do the POF'er's think about this?.. | |
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Posted: 4/3/2012 3:56:58 PM | | I'm with you on this one, I don't see why men can't run it either. If it was anything else they'd be done for sexual discrimination. Men lose wives, mothers, daughters, nieces, sisters, aunts, grandmothers to cancer as well. | |
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Posted: 4/3/2012 4:00:23 PM | I've run the race for life a number of times and will do so again this summer if the bits falling off my body at the moment allow me. I don't know if it's what the participants want although there is quite a good 'girly' sort of feel to it.Stacks of blokes there, sons, dads, partners etc as supporters seeming happy to cheer their women on.
I couldn't care less that it's women only.There's plenty of other races you can enter.I don't care if there are men only races either.It's no big deal. | |
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Posted: 4/3/2012 4:37:44 PM | On one hand, it is a legal grey area...charities are exempt from sex discrimination if the discrimination is proportionate to achieve an aim, which you could maybe argue was the case...however there are European Human Rights laws, Equality Laws and some case law that might supersede that.
....on the other hand it is men who are being discriminated against so no-one give a f**k. Have a nice day :) | |
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Posted: 4/4/2012 12:58:08 AM | | Mazeyh.the fact that there are other races to enter does not change the fact that i am banned from taking part in that particular piece of fund raising simply because of my gender.I don't believe the organisers are being sexist,just discrimatory and short sighted.In fact,i have more of a problem with their reason for not letting me enter,which is that the women don't want the men to run with them as i simply don't believe that's universally true of the contestants.Both sexes suffer from cancer and i believe both sexes should join together to try to beat it... | |
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Posted: 4/4/2012 1:34:13 AM | Can us women not have anything we can do as females alone and together anymore , without men having to jump in?
I would not want my partner running with me . Its about ladies not men accept it and let us grieve and fight our ways . There are plenty of other ways you can help us . Aruging your rites is not one of them we go through enough with cancer as it is . wihtout fighting the men also . women understand our problems feel our problems as they mostly have what we have .
Let us have this one thing . We want to fight alone let us . If your that upset make a donation online . | |
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Posted: 4/4/2012 1:38:30 AM | well said mazeyh
men can support us by cheering us on , that is all we ask for . let us do this one thing alone and our way . where is the respect for our wishes and our fellow sisters ? No one hears about us women trying to jump on the band wagon with testicular cancer we go and stand strong and tall for our men :) | |
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Posted: 4/4/2012 2:07:36 AM | onlymee I think Cancer Research have probably investigated this pretty thoroughly and believe that the Race For Life has a large degree of success because it is women only.I've done other events and am happy to run alongside men but the Race for Life DOES have a particular atmosphere.I don't in general go much for 'girly' events, atmosphere or company but I really have enjoyed this. It's great to see three generations of women at these events , all kitted up ready to run ( or walk or stagger!).The races get filled up quickly -success breeds success. Once one woman has done it , more from the same workplace or friend group will the next year, often women who have never thought about running before. It's quite a big topic of discussion at times. There is a CRUK men's race as you say which originally ran in a number of locations but it has never taken off in the same way and was scaled back to just one place because I don't think there was enough interest.
I do think there is a place for SOME women only and men only spaces, places and events. Sometimes people just enjoy the company of their own sex. | |
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Posted: 4/4/2012 9:47:49 AM |
violetsandstorms
Can us women not have anything we can do as females alone and together anymore
Not while you're trying to put an end to all male-only related clubs etc....no. :) Equality is a two-way street. I'll say once more that people only want equality when it benefits them, otherwise they want the upper hand.
(not you personally, of course) | |
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Posted: 4/4/2012 10:03:37 AM | | I did this a couple of years ago and they wouldnt allow my young lad to come on the run with me. I'm a single parent, his dad lives in Glasgow and I had no available babysitter. I thought it was ridiculous! | |
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Posted: 4/4/2012 10:30:56 AM |
I've recently seen some advertisements on television for 'Race for life'
It's sexist pure and simple, the same as Sheila's Wheels insurance | |
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Posted: 4/4/2012 3:24:35 PM | I'm not particularly bothered about women-only running events, mainly because there are so few of them. Looking on Runner's World there were 133 events in Hampshire last year and I count 4 that were women only.
If some women don't want to run alongside men I think that's their choice. I can only assume that they somehow feel intimidated, I think that's a shame as almost everyone I've met at a running event has been friendly and supportive. | |
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Posted: 4/5/2012 4:13:21 PM | You do get some women that don't like and won't participate in mixed events in many sports. Just about every gym, swimming pool etc up and down the country has a ladies night for that very reason.
As for Race for Life it hardly attracts real runners anyway, mostly charity folk that do one 5/10km a year on minimal training. If you're male and want to race from spring through autumn you'd struggle not to find 10km/halfs/marathons all over the place. Most places have weekly parkrun events now to if you want to bash out a quick 5km. Finding available races isn't hard. If you want to raise money for charity you can do that to, just pick an event and set up a justgiving page.There's no need to do it in a charity organised event like the one mentioned here.
To counter the point raised about it being sexist Glasgow city council started a men only 10km event up here based on the popularity of the women only 10km they do each year, so there is at least one men only event. Plus if you want to annoy the women folk just let them read some Hal Higdon training material. A great coach, but a sexist old git. | |
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Posted: 4/6/2012 1:21:00 AM | Sure it's sexist, but so is loads of stuff in the world around us.
I think you have to want to get revved up about this minor crap, and I'm personally disinclined to let it affect my blood pressure anytime soon.
At the end of the day, it's about a slight restriction in choice, involving something that really doesn't matter, and certainly doesn't stop an individual running (or whatever) for charity in another event.
Methinks just another reason for a whine..................
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Posted: 4/6/2012 1:27:31 AM | The thing is though, why is action taken against males being sexist but not when womenn are?
like cricket clubs having to allow female members etc, but if something is only women then that seems to be ok | |
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Posted: 4/6/2012 3:36:20 AM | /\/\/\/\
I's because some women are sad enough to care about things so trivial as this. Where as men just let it go because it's not important
If you had a blacks only race or a whites only race there would be uproar | |
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Posted: 4/6/2012 3:48:33 AM |
Vestan__Pance
Just about every gym, swimming pool etc up and down the country has a ladies night for that very reason.
You'll actually find that they don't for quite a simple reason....it is against the law. It is illegal in the UK to discriminate based purely on the grounds of sex. Obviously there are exemptions, but gyms are *not* one of them, neither are bars, etc. I'm not saying there aren't clubs that do this, but if there are they are breaking the law and someone just hasn't bothered to do anything about it yet.
rob8701
If you had a blacks only race or a whites only race there would be uproar
They'd certainly be uproar if you had a Music of White Origin award.... | |
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Posted: 4/6/2012 10:03:56 AM | It seems a little bit 'melodramatic' to compare this with genuine discrimination, whether racial (which is just laughable IMO) or 'sexist'.
I don't see the same 'outrage' from men, that breast cancer mainly "favours" women too.
I see some possible solutions.
1/. If you feel strongly, organise a race for prostate cancer (maybe one already exists..?)
2/. Organise a 'men only' race for women's cancer charities. (That'll teach 'em)
3/. Just give them the fvckin money (To quote Sir Bob)
4/. Run the race in drag, complete with high heels.
How come only women are allowed to have babies too...?
It's an outrage.  | |
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Posted: 4/6/2012 10:09:52 AM |
jo van
It seems a little bit 'melodramatic' to compare this with genuine discrimination
Yes, it's funny how people only consider it discrimination when it doesn't favour them.
1/. If you feel strongly, organise a race for prostate cancer
As many men die of prostate cancer than women die of breast cancer. Not that you'd think so if you watched the media. Men are also as likely to be a victim of domestic abuse, but again if you watched the media you'd think it was only women.
2/. Organise a 'men only' race for women's cancer charities
If you did it would be stopped under discrimination laws. | |
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Posted: 4/6/2012 10:11:50 AM | | I don't know.... may be some men would like to join in with the Miss Universe Contest too? | |
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Posted: 4/6/2012 10:38:21 AM | | ^^^ yeah, I was serious.... I also read that someone who was born a male and wasn't quite female yet had tried to enter Race for Life got kicked out too. I have mixed thoughts about this at the moment.. on the one hand, I understand why men should want the right to race - after all, Cancer affects everyone. On the other hand, there aren't many things for 'women' only... there are plenty of single mums out there struggling to bring up their kids and feeling very isolated at times. Perhaps they feel like they want a bit of solidarity with other women... makes them realise they are not alone and that there are other women out there facing the same struggles. Only another woman who has been through breast cancer will really understand what it's like to go through it. This race is a way for them to acknowledge that struggle together and possibly to make new friends and share their experience. | |
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Posted: 4/6/2012 10:57:09 AM |
indigovelvet
there aren't many things for 'women' only
Why should there be? Women have been campaigning for decades for equality....now you have it. Or do you only want it when it benefits you? | |
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Posted: 4/6/2012 11:06:53 AM |
Only another woman who has been through breast cancer will really understand what it's like to go through it.
My friend lost both her breasts by the time she was 40.
She and her husband split up 2 years after the second operation as she couldn't stand anyone to see her or touch her. She is still very aware of her loss, and even though she wears false breasts outside of the house she doesn't like people looking at her, or touching her, she's always convinced they can see her scars.
Five years later she started to run the Race for Life, and she runs it every year. For her it's not so much a celebration of life as a commitment to herself not to give up fighting to get her 'normal' life back. She probably wouldn't run if men were involved because the idea of getting jostled by men would put her off right now.
Many of the women who run have had similar experiences. The Race for Life is not just about raising money - for many of the women it's another step towards accepting changes to their bodies, or a celebration that they beat the cancer.
There is nothing to stop someone starting a mixed gender race if they want to. Many of the women who run the Race for Life would probably run that too.
Is it more important to worry about the fact that it's single gender than to have some compassion for the awful times some of these women have gone through ? | |
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Posted: 4/6/2012 11:11:21 AM | | 1% of all breast cancers are suffered by MEN! | |
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Posted: 4/7/2012 1:40:46 PM | Why all the fuss , they have race for life for just men only too ...
Theres one in york scheduled for fathers day so why not put your name down for that ?
You shouldnt complain about something that men have too .If you was that concerned about helping then surely you would join one of the male runs like the boys beating cancer which is a charity race for boys and men
http://www.boysbeatingcancer.com/boys-beating-cancer-2011
It’s Back! Boys Beating Cancer 2012
We are very pleased to announce that we have the date for Boys Beating Cancer 2012. The event will once again be held at Newbury Rugby Club and will be on Sunday 5 August
Annual York prostate cancer fun run seeking participants
IT’S time for men get out their running shoes and raise money for charity.
The annual York prostate cancer fun run is looking for hundreds of runners and walkers willing to spend Father’s Day completing a scenic three miles in and around the city centre.
Remember you men also had the run for moore which is based for men only ,so what is wrong with women having one ? | |
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