WOMEN are being asked to get “down and dirty” to help raise cash for the fight against cancer.

Basildon will be one of just four places to host a Race for Life Pretty Muddy event this year to raise muchneeded funds for Cancer Research UK.

Pretty Muddy Essex will be held at Northlands Park on Saturday, September 21.

The 5km muddy obstacle course is open to all women and girls of any level of fitness over the age of 13.

It is hoped the non-competitive, messy challenge will replicate the atmosphere of the Race for Life in Basildon’s Gloucester Park last month, which featured more than 5,000 women and raised more than £300,000 for charity.

Gill Burgess, Cancer Research UK’s events manager for Essex, said: “It’s an exhilarating new event and we’ve chosen to hold it in Essex because we believe our supporters here will love this new challenge.

“Pretty Muddy promises all the fun and camaraderie of Race for Life, but with added obstacles and, of course, mud. Just like Race for Life, it’s not about being fit or fast, it’s about showing cancer how tough Race for Life women are.”

Mrs Burgess hopes people who haven’t taken part in Race for Life before, as well as those who have and want a new challenge, will sign up for Pretty Muddy.

Gill added: “We know that women in Essex will be determined to tackle every obstacle in their path at Pretty Muddy to help cancer patients by raising money to fund crucial research.”

It is hoped more than 600 participants will take part to help raise more than £28,700 for the charity.

The event will be run in waves of 200 women every 15minutes, with the first wave setting off at 1pm.

To enter Pretty Muddy Essex, visit www.prettymuddy.org or call 0845 600 6050