CUSTOMERS of Ambassador Taxis in Chipping Norton are being given the chance to help find a cure for cancer - by sponsoring owner Nicky Hancock in the Race for Life.

Mrs Hancock, 35, and her daughter Amy-Louise, 16, are taking part in the annual Race for Life at Heythrop Park on Sunday, June 22.

Amy-Louise, a pupil at Chipping Norton School, said: "Mum has been telling all her customers what we are doing and they are being very generous because Race for Life is for such a worthy cause."

Race for Life is the UK's largest women-only fundraising event, where women of all ages come together to walk, jog, or run 5km to raise money for Cancer Research UK.

Many women who take part in Race for Life do so for a personal reason; some women are cancer survivors, while others take part in memory of or to celebrate the lives of loved ones affected by cancer.

Amy-Louise added: "Mum's mum - my nan Jennifer - died of cancer in 1997 when I was only six and we do the Race for Life in memory of her.

"I will be wearing a T-shirt with a picture of my nan on it and between us we hope to raise around £500."

As well as the Heythrop Park race, Oxford will host three other races at the University Parks on Saturday, June 7, at 11am and 2.30pm, and on Sunday, June 8, at 11am.

Mrs Hancock said: "We'll be running part of the way and walking a bit too probably and we'll be cheered on by my husband Mick and our son Jordan, who is ten.

"It's such a lovely atmosphere and everyone really looks forward to taking part."

Every pound raised in Oxfordshire goes directly on research carried out in the county.

The Cancer Research UK Clinical Centre at the Churchill and John Radcliffe Hospitals brings together many world-class scientists and doctors, conducting research into the biology of cancer and translating this into new, targeted treatments.

Vikki Savery, area event manager for Race for Life, said: "The women of Oxfordshire play a major part in Race for Life and we hope this year's events are again an invitation they can't refuse."