Tesco has today announced plans to recruit 1 million fundraising runners for Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life as part of an extension of its partnership with the charity.

This commitment indicates a deepening of the ongoing relationship between the Race for Life event and Tesco; from 2011 the race series will be re-named Tesco and Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life and featuring a new logo. Additionally Tesco will begin a series of in-store campaigns, including one through Tesco Clubcard.

The announcement is timed well, as 2011 will mark ten years since the two organisations first joined together. 

Josh Hardie, head of CSR at Tesco, said “We are honoured to pledge an increased commitment to the event series for 2011. We will reach more women than ever before – not just thousands of Tesco employees but our customers too.

“We’re looking forward to working closely with Cancer Research UK to realise the ambitious £80m target for the charity’s life saving work”.  

Race for Life opens for entries on 17 January 2011.