Runners, joggers and walkers face the starter for the first race in the Munster Mini Marathon series

Hundreds of women from across Munster and further afield will take to the roads of Kerry, Cork, Tipperary and Limerick in the coming weeks, starting with Killarney this weekend.

The Killarney Mini Marathon takes place tomorrow (Saturday 8th September), with big races to follow in Cork next week (Sunday 16th September), Tipperary (Sunday 30th September) and Limerick (Sunday 14th October).

Many contestants will be raising vital funds for the Irish Cancer Society to provide care and support for people living with cancer in the Munster area - and it's still not too late to raise funds if you want to get involved in any of the four races.

Cliona Hegarty, the Irish Cancer Society’s National Campaigns Manager, said, “The cancer challenge in Ireland is an enormous one. One in three of us will develop cancer during the course of our lifetime and this year alone it is estimated that 30,000 people will develop cancer.

“We rely on the public’s goodwill and support to continue to provide our free nationwide patient care services. We’re encouraging women to participate in support of the Irish Cancer Society and we’ll support them every step of the way.

“Last year over 300 people took part in marathons and mini marathons for us at home and around the world, and this year we want even more people to get their running shoes on and help outrun cancer.”

Most recent data from the National Cancer Registry shows that 26,255 people were diagnosed with cancer in Ireland in 2010. Of those, 1,012 people were diagnosed with cancer in Kerry, 3.225 people were diagnosed with cancer in Cork, 934 people in Tipperary and 1,048 people in Limerick.

These stark figures mean that there is an ever increasing demand for the direct patient care services provided by the Irish Cancer Society.

Cancer will affect one in three people during the course of their lifetime. However, more people are surviving cancer because people are being diagnosed at an earlier stage and treatments are advancing through research.

To choose the Irish Cancer Society as your charity for one of the Munster Mini Marathons, or another fund-raising event, CallSave 1850 60 60 60, visit www.cancer.ie/munster-mini-marathons or email fundraising@irishcancer.ie.

The 2012 Munster Mini Marathon schedule:

Killarney, Saturday 8th September - 12 noon

Cork, Sunday 16th September - 1pm

Tipperary, Sunday 30th September - 11am

Limerick, Sunday 14th October - 12 noon