Cancer Research has confirmed that it will not hold any more Run 10k events, stating that the race series has come to a “natural conclusion”.

This year Cancer Research was forced to cancel some of its Run 10k events after entry figures dropped and associated event costs were too high. John Tasker, head of events at Cancer Research confirmed that the series has become unfeasable as a fundraising tool:

“Following a review of our fundraising events portfolio we have decided to close the Cancer Research UK Run 10k series in 2011. As a charity, we need to raise as much money as possible for our important work, and we feel that Run 10k has now come to a natural conclusion in its current form.

“We are hugely grateful to all our supporters who embraced the Run 10k series and raised money for Cancer Research UK and we hope that they will continue to support our existing and new fundraising events.”

Run 10k was launched in 2003 with just three events. In 2009, 43 events were held in unique locations across the UK with 60,000 men and women running to raise over £6m for the charity. And in 2010 Cancer Research piloted the world’s first urban running lane named after the event series on London’s South Bank.

The close of the Run 10k series means the end of the largest mixed-gender fundraising event for the charity. In September the Fundraising Standards Board dismissed a complaint that the charity's women-only Race for Life discriminated against men.

A spokesperson for the charity advised there are still a number of events men can get involved with: "All our other events are open to both men and women, such as Shine - our night-time walking marathon, or Relay for Life. We're also encouraging people to sign up to Gold Challenge in aid of us."