Category Archives: Health

Royal Wedding highlights those hidden calories as summer wedding season gets underway

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The wedding season is well and truly upon us with the nuptials of William and Kate providing a dramatic start for 2011.

But while most of us will see the pounds flying from our wallets with outfits and presents we often overlook the pounds that we pile on during the celebrations.

Fitness First Personal Trainer of the Year Katie Ford said that weddings can see us eat up to 5,000 calories in one day – and that’s without the excesses of a hen or stag do and a large fry up following the wedding day.

“As summer and the wedding season approaches it’s easy forget how many calories we can actually consume over the course of a day,’’ said Katie.

She says that with Champagne at 90 calories a glass, a few canapés at 200 calories each, a three course celebration meal at 1,000 calories and a single piece of wedding cake 650 calories you are already at around 2,500 calories.

“Add to this wine, beer, breakfast before the ceremony and a tasty evening buffet and you can easily consume 5,000 calories,’’ said Katie.

“It is difficult to avoid those extra calories and so we still need to exercise in order to keep in shape and not totally abandon our fitness routines.’’

Katie suggests a number of short workouts which are perfect for burning those extra calories, all of which can either be done at home, outdoors or in the gym. “You can fit these in around any kind of summer celebration where the calorie count is high from a wedding to birthday parties or BBQ.’’

Katie’s wedding workout recommendations
· One glass of Champagne = 90kcal
Try 10 minutes on the cross trainer or power walking up hill
· Glass of red wine = 135 kcal
Try 20 minutes of a group exercise class or video – for example Get Fit with Mel B group exercise class or Video Game
· 1 pint of beer = 225kcals
Try 30 minutes of a Body Attack class
· One/two canapes = 291kcal
Try 30 minutes of running or jogging, either on the treadmill or in a park
· Slice of wedding cake = 650 calories
A Zumba class can easily burn off 650 calories – and you can have fun at the same time.
· Half pork pie = 245kcals
Try 30 minutes of an RPM/Group Cycling class or an hour’s bike ride
· Wedding meal with wine = 1,000 calories
Complete all of the above classes and exercises.

Pictured – Katie Ford – Fitness First Personal Trainer of the Year

GURU THAT INSPIRED DAVID CAMERON’S HAPPINESSS INDEX TURNS HIS BACK ON ‘HAPPINESS’

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EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH MARTIN SELIGMAN IN PSYCHOLOGIES NOW QUESTIONS THE ‘HAPPINESS INDEX’ AND HAPPINESS MOVEMENT


This month the Government will interview 200,000 families across the UK in an attempt to gauge how happy we are as a nation.

David Cameron has already attracted a barrage of criticism for the idea. Now, one of the men who originally inspired the happiness movement has dubbed much of the world’s focus on feeling good as nothing more than ‘happyology’.

American happiness guru Martin Seligman, who invented the whole concept of ‘positive psychology’, has now admitted in an interview in this month’s (May issue out Today – 6th April) Psychologies magazine that he now believes people want more in life than mere happiness.

“What humans want is not just happiness. They want justice, they want meaning. An interesting example is that there’s quite a bit of evidence that people’s mood isn’t as good once they have children. If that’s all people were interested in, we should have been extinguished a long time ago.’

Despite writing internationally renowned books, ‘Authentic Happiness: Using the New Positive Psychology to Realise Your Potential for Lasting Fulfillment’ and ‘Can Happiness be Taught?’,  Seligman now believes that the word ‘happiness’ has become so overused that it has becoming meaningless.

‘The word happiness always bothered me, partly because it was scientifically unwieldy and meant a lot of different things to different people, and also because it’s subjective.’

Instead, he suggests we focus on ‘flourishing’, his big new idea that encompases a wider definition of feeling good. In the interview he also addresses the issue of whether
governments could be doing more harm than good by measuring the mood of their populations, particularly with the forthcoming ‘Happiness Index’.

POSTNATAL DEPRESSION CAN BEGIN DURING PREGNANCY

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Pregnancy-related depression is not just confined to after the baby’s birth, but can begin during pregnancy, according to the Mother and Baby Unit at the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (SLaM).

A study recently published in the British Journal of Psychiatry found that women who have suffered a miscarriage or stillbirth are more likely to suffer from depression during and after subsequent pregnancies.

SLaM’s Mother and Baby Unit regularly sees women who have developed depression during pregnancy or a relapse of a serious mental illness triggered by becoming pregnancy.

Dr Trudi Seneviratne, consultant psychiatrist in SLaM’s Mother and Baby Unit, said that while depression usually followed the birth of a child, this was not always the case.

“Postnatal depression is understood to be, as the name suggests, depression that is triggered by the birth of a child,” she said.

”While depression following birth is the most common form of pregnancy-related depression, it can also begin during pregnancy, or months after giving birth. Pregnancy can also trigger other mental health conditions or cause women with a previous history of mental illness to relapse.”

The Mother and Baby Unit at the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (SLaM), treats both expectant and new mothers suffering from severe depression. Part of SLaM’s Perinatal Service, the unit offers specialised care and treatment for women from across the UK, who develop a mental illness or have a relapse of serious mental illness during pregnancy and the postnatal period.

Despite the prevalence and awareness of postnatal depression, the reality is that women who are actually experiencing it, feel very, very alone. It is estimated that postnatal depression (PND) affects around one in 10 mothers in the UK, and also a small number of fathers who are struggling to cope with a new baby or supporting their partner.

PND usually develops in the first four to six weeks after childbirth, although in some cases it can develop some months later. It may also start in pregnancy and continue into the postnatal period. If untreated, the mother’s depression can have significant effects not only on her own mental health, but on the relationship with the baby, the baby’s development, as well as affecting her partner and wider family.

Dr Seneviratne said it is important to differentiate PND from the ‘baby blues’ or postnatal ‘blues’, which is common , affecting 60-70% of women and usually occurs in days following birth and usually resolves after a few days.

“It is very important for new mothers struggling with depression to understand that having PND does not mean they do not love or care for their baby,” Dr Seneviratne stressed.

“Most women aren’t aware when they are experiencing PND, which means it is extremely important for partners, family and friends, along with healthcare professionals, to recognise the signs of PND as early as possible, and recommend treatment. Women often feel guilty about expressing their feelings as having a new child should be a ‘happy’ time,” she said.

Most women experiencing PND following the birth of a child are treated at home through a combination of therapy and medication. Only the most extreme cases of PND require inpatient hospitalization, and such cases, a specialist service like the one at SLaM is able to provide more intensive care.

“PND can be a lonely and scary experience for new mothers, but it is not a permanent condition. With time and treatment, you will recover,” Dr Seneviratne said.

There is no single cause for PND, and it can be triggered by a number of factors such as social factors including relationship worries, money problems or having limited support from family and friends. Indeed, having a baby itself is a life-changing event that can be extremely exhausting and stressful.

“Some women feel unable to look after their baby, or maintain their relationship with their partner. They may feel anxious about leaving the house, or that they simply cannot cope,” Dr Seneviratne said.

The most common symptoms of postnatal depression include low mood, overwhelming guilt, feeling unable to cope and difficulty sleeping. While most mothers will experience some form of exhaustion and possibly mild depression,–prolonged low moods are an indication of a more serious problem.

Dr Seneviratne said it was important for new mothers who are struggling to cope with their new baby, and the changes to their life, to seek help from their GP.

If a new mother has been feeling down, depressed and hopeless, and is unable to take interest in normal interests and pleasures, they are most likely suffering from PND. They may not enjoy their baby and struggle with maintaining societal cultural pressures such as maintain breast feeding. A GP should ask questions and look for common symptoms of PND, then offer the most appropriate form of treatment.

Psychological interventions or therapy are often recommended, although the most important step is simply recognising the problem and talking it through with family and friends and helpful professionals. Medication, such as antidepressants, can be used to treat PND. It is important that the mother is adequately supported and that any treatment plan is tailored to her wishes

Dr Seneviratne said in more serious cases, women may experience frightening thoughts about harming themselves or their baby.

“Thinking about hurting yourself or your new child can be extremely alarming for new mothers, although it is surprisingly common. Again, women experiencing these thoughts must talk to their GP who can recommend treatment,” she explained.

Part of SLaM’s Perinatal Service, the unit offers specialised care and treatment for women from across the UK, who develop a mental illness or have a relapse of serious mental illness during pregnancy and the postnatal period.

The service helps mothers struggling with depression to develop a relationship with her child, and reduce the impact of the mother’s illness on the child. Fathers and partners are encouraged to be involved in the treatment. Babies are accepted on to the ward with their mothers. Other times it is more appropriate to admit the mother without their baby and begin a programme of gradual reintroduction of the baby to the mother while on the ward.

In addition to PND, SLaM’s Perinatal Service also treats less common forms of mental illness among new mothers, such as postnatal psychosis or pre-existing mental health conditions. Postnatal psychosis is rarer, and can include symptoms such mood changes (irritability, elation, depression) delusions (false beliefs), hallucinations and irrational or suicidal thoughts.

www.national.slam.nhs.uk/services/adult-services/perinatal

Symptoms of postnatal depression:

The symptoms of postnatal depression usually include one or more of the following:

· Low mood for long periods of time (a week or more)

· Feeling irritable for a lot of the time

· Tearfulness

· Panic attacks or feeling trapped in your life

· Difficulty concentrating

· Lack of motivation

· Lack of interest in yourself and your new baby

· Feeling lonely

· Felling guilty, rejected or inadequate

· Feeling overwhelmed

· Feeling unable to cope

· Difficulty sleeping and feeling constantly tired

· Physical tension, such as headaches, stomach pains or blurred vision

· Lack of appetite

· Reduced sex drive

Myths surrounding postnatal depression

PND is commonly misunderstood. Some of the most common myths around the conditions include:

· PND is less severe than other types of depression

– in fact PND is just as serious as other depressions.

· PND is entirely caused by hormonal changes

– there is no one factor, PND it is triggered by a number of factors.

· PND will go away by itself – usually, treatment is needed for PND.

So, why DON'T Men Go To The Doctor?

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Insureblue supports the Blue Ribbon Foundation

1 in 5 men have not seen a doctor in the last 3 years – 2% have never seen one
Two thirds of men have family history of cancer, stroke, heart disease – but more than half have not had basic healthcare checks in last year
Only 65% of men would definitely consult a doctor if experiencing chest pain

A new survey about men’s attitude to healthcare reveals that men are reluctant to consult with healthcare professionals – despite two thirds of those surveyed having significant medical family histories more than one in five men (21%) have not visited a GP, or healthcare professional in the last 12 months – and 2% admit they have never seen one.

The survey was undertaken by insureblue.co.uk which today launches its fundraising support for the new Blue Ribbon Foundation. Insureblue will donate £10 for every bike, home and car insurance policy sold on its web site to the Blue Ribbon Foundation which has been created to raise awareness about male cancers and male health issues. £1 for every travel insurance policy sold will also be donated.

insurepink.co.uk, the sister site to insureblue, raises over £1,000 a week for the Pink Ribbon Foundation charity which supports breast cancer charities funding research, specialist equipment and nurses.

The survey asked 1,000 men aged over 18 (73% were aged over 45) about their views on health and their attitude to seeing healthcare professionals and undergoing basic health checks – measuring weight, blood pressure, diabetes and cholesterol. Overall only 14% admitted to being happy to see a doctor if needed whilst a third revealed that they will only go to the doctors if their partners encourage them, or they really have to. Survey results below – disease incident rates etc in notes to editor.

Andy Kirton, business development director, insureblue: “We are proud to be able to support the work of the Blue Ribbon Foundation and believe it will be a tremendous success based on the public support that has been shown for insurepink. Insurance products are pretty generic and it is fantastic that just by the simple act of buying competitively priced insurance through us, ordinary people are doing extraordinary things. With insurepink and the Pink Ribbon Foundation we have helped over 68 breast cancer charities in the last year. We hope that the public will continue to show their support for men, male cancers and men’s health issues by supporting insureblue and in turn, the work of the Blue Ribbon Foundation.”

Jonathan Prince, chair of trustees, Blue Ribbon Foundation: “I am delighted that in these difficult financial times that insureblue will enable many individuals to donate whilst getting a fair insurance deal. Us men need to do more to look after ourselves. I speak to many women and who are more concerned about their partners. These donations will enable us to change men’s attitudes to their overall health.

Mr Krishna Sethia, Medical Director and Consultant Urologist at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital: “I welcome any positive move that will make men more aware of health issues relating to themselves. Men are often too embarrassed to discuss their symptoms but they need to, as early diagnosis can make a significant difference to their chances of successful treatment.

“I support the efforts of the Blue Ribbon Foundation in getting men to talk more openly about their health and I wish the foundation every success.”

Survey results
42% of men believed their health to be good or very good.
21% believed they were the right weight for their height
9% had never weighed themselves.
41% acknowledged that they had weight issues – 21% admitted to being at least a stone overweight, whilst 22% admitted to being overweight or obese.

Nearly half (44%) had not had their blood pressure checked in the last year. Of those who had had it checked over a third (35%) had discovered some issue with 26% needing additional monitoring and 9% further investigations.

More than half had not had their cholesterol checked in the last year (58%).
30% had never had their cholesterol checked.
41% had never been tested for diabetes, yet only 36% would definitely see a doctor if they suffered from increased urination – one of the symptoms of diabetes.

66% of men had parents or grandparents who had suffered from cancer, stroke or heart disease, yet when asked about whether they would consult a doctor if they experienced some of the common symptoms of these diseases, the results were shocking:

6% would never consult a doctor if they experienced chest pain, 26% profuse sweating, 9% blood in urine/semen, 14% blurred vision and 9% breathlessness.

Only 65% would definitely consult a doctor for chest pain, 25% profuse sweating, 82% blood in urine/semen, 48% blurred vision, 55% breathlessness.

Top conditions for definitely visiting a doctor
1. Blood in urine/semen – 82%
2. Chest pain – 65%
3. Breathlessness – 55%
4. Blurred vision – 48%
5. Increased urination – 36%

And what percentage never would visit a doctor:

1. Weight gain – 59%
2. Low libido – 40%
3. Profuse sweating – 24%
4. Blurred vision – 12%
5. Breathlessness – 9%

For a motor, bike, travel or home insurance quote to support the Blue Ribbon Foundation visit insureblue.co.uk

5 Exercises to Avoid Lower Back Pain

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According to the British Medical Journal, most people suffer from lower back pain at some point, and while many people recover, between 10 and 25 percent of people with low back pain have long periods where they’re unable to work. Treatments for back pain include painkillers, physiotherapy, osteopathy or even surgery. But, according to top personal trainer Greg Brookes (http://www.gbpersonaltraining.com/) many people can alleviate their pain through practising five simple exercises.

We would like to remind you to consult with a schooled doctor to guide you with your healthcare needs before starting a fitness program.

1. Stretch your Hip Flexors
Your Hip Flexors are a group of muscles responsible for raising your knees to your chest. They are a very active and easily get involved in movements that they are not primary designed to do. The Hip Flexors over activation and lack of stretching often results in a shortening of the muscles. As the muscles shorten they start to pull on the Lumbar Spine and ultimately create a more Lordotic curve in lower back. This posture is easily recognized with the buttocks pushed out at the back and belly protruding out at the front.
Solution: Stretch the Hip Flexors by taking a deep lunge position, rotating your pelvic bone towards your chest and bracing your abs.

2. Lengthen your Hamstrings
Following lengthy periods of sitting with bent knees the Hamstrings shorten. Shortened hamstrings attach to the bottom of your pelvis and prevent correct rotation of the pelvis during forward bending. An inability to rotate at the pelvis results in a compensation in the lower back and ultimately lower back problems.
Solution: Stretch the Hamstrings by sitting with your lower back against a wall and straightening your legs. Keep the chest up and proud.

3. Improve Thoracic Spine Mobility
The Thoracic Spine is situated from the base of the neck to the mid back and is anatomically designed for movement. The Lumbar Spine with its larger vertebrae is designed for stability and lack of movement. Most people due to repetitive seating positions have “locked up” Thoracic Spines resulting in limited movement. The Lumbar spine is then forced to produce movement that it is not anatomically designed to perform and hence lower back issues.
Solution: Mobilise the Thoracic Spine by sitting tall on a backless chair and holding a stick across the shoulders. Brace the abs to lock the lower back and rotate slowly alternating sides.

4. Strengthen the Inner Core
The Inner Core is designed to work as a compression chamber to support the Lower Spine. The Pelvic Floor and Diaphragm are on top and bottom, the Transverse Abdominis goes around the sides and the Multifidus is at the back. An inability, through excess sitting, to activate the inner core leaves the Lumber Spine “Naked” during movement.
Solution: Strengthen the Inner Core by lying face down with the head on the hands. Breathe in deeply and push the belly into the floor, then breathe out deeply and pull the belly off the floor.

5. Use Correct Abdominal Training
The world’s obsession with flat stomachs and 6-pack Abs has resulted in a whole multitude of abdominal exercises. Unfortunately the majority of these exercises go against the true function of the Core muscles and only exacerbate existing problems. The Cores primary role is to provide stabilisation and a strong platform for other muscles to function from. Sit ups and crunches work in the total opposite direction of the Cores true function and only increase excess flexion in the Lumbar Spine. These exercises in turn increase the hunched over desk seated position and further stimulate and shorten the over active Hip Flexors.
Solution: Work on Core Stability by holding a rigid Press Up position while slowly raising one arm and taping the opposite shoulder. The less conditioned can omit the shoulder taps.

You can see videos of all the exercises required to create a strong core to prevent lower back issues by following Greg’s “Core Conditioning Course” here: http://gbptmembers.com/store/products/33

Male Cancers – A Whole New Ball Game

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A triumphant, red-shirted Bobby Moore, proudly hoisting the World Cup while chaired by his victorious teammates, is English football’s most iconic image.

But the famous 1966 tableau represented more than just a sporting milestone for Moore. Just two years earlier, the West Ham United talisman had been treated for, and beaten, testicular cancer.

Regrettably, it proved only a respite for England’s favourite footballer, who tragically finally succumbed to bowel cancer in 1993 at the age of just 51.

The figures can be frightening. Prostate cancer is the most common form of cancer in men in England, counting for one in four of all male cancers, while bowel cancer is the second most common cause of cancer deaths in the UK, resulting in the deaths of around 16,000 people every year.

And yet, NHS research shows that while incidents of bowel and prostate cancer increase with age, awareness is relatively low.

Considering that early diagnosis increases the chances of beating the disease, the fact that men are less likely to visit their doctor than women adds to the risk.

Understandable embarrassment is one factor, allied to the fact that bowel cancer symptoms can be non-specific. According to Cancer Research UK, the presenting features of colon cancer can be weight loss and anaemia due to blood loss.

Rectal and distal colon cancers, on the other hand, usually present themselves as bleeding and/or altered bowel habits. Symptoms can also overlap with less serious, and more common conditions, such as bowel obstruction.

The causes of bowel cancer can vary. A high intake of red and processed meat will increase the chances of developing the disease, while a diet rich in fibre will reduce it.

An inactive lifestyle also increases the risk, with at least 10% of colon cancers in the UK related to overweight or obesity. Research has also shown that people drinking more than 30g/day of alcohol (around four units) have a greater chance of contracting the disease.

But just taking a small dose of aspirin (75 mg/day) can reduce the risk of dying from colon cancer by a massive 39%.

For prostate cancer, the strongest risk factor is age, with a very low risk in men under the age of 50, which then increases. And the disease can often be common among families. Men with immediate relatives – such as a father, son or brother – diagnosed with prostate cancer have an increased risk of being diagnosed themselves, especially if the relative was diagnosed before the age of 60.

West African men and black men from the Caribbean have a higher risk of prostate cancer than white men, while men born in Asia have a lower risk than men born in the UK.

The symptoms can be similar to prostate enlargement, namely frequency and difficulty in urinating, and occasionally blood in the urine. If untreated, bladder obstruction can occur, while men with more advanced disease may experience pain where the cancer has spread, especially in the back.

Meanwhile, testicular cancer in the UK is rising, particularly in Caucasian men and has doubled since the mid-70s.

Whether this is because widespread campaigns to encourage self-examination aren’t working, or contrarily, because many more cases are being treated as a result, isn’t certain. However, the facts are that around 2,000 men in the UK are diagnosed with testicular cancer every year and while it is rare before puberty, it is the most common cancer of men aged 15-44.

Despite this, if there is any good news story in cancer, testicular cancer is the one. Since the introduction of combination chemotherapy in the 1970s, survival rates for testicular cancer have risen every year. The cure rate is now over 95%.

As stated before, with any cancer, the earlier the diagnosis, the greater the chances of survival.

It’s a standing joke among men that we fondle our testicles every day – albeit not for a medical diagnosis. But with the most common symptom being a painless lump or swelling on one of the testicles, men – and their partners – need to take careful notice.

Other warning signals include testicle enlargement, an increase in testicular firmness, pain, an unusual difference between one testicle and the other, an ache in the lower stomach or groin and heaviness in the scrotum.

In advanced disease, symptoms can include chest tenderness, back pain, shortness of breath and coughing up blood.

In short, guys and girls – don’t be shy. And don’t be scared. I know from bitter experience that when you read a set of symptoms in a medical book, or in an article like this, it can feel like you have them all – and your world falls apart.

Remember, these symptoms can all be a result of something completely different, minor and sometimes, maybe, almost laughable, but your GP won’t care if it turns out to be nothing.

I had a cancer scare at the age of just 22. In the end, it was something relatively minor, but here’s the thing. It may not have been.

So. Simply. If you have any doubts at all, visit your GP. And now, I know it’s a cliché, and it’s one I’ve used before, but it’s valid. So here you go: “If one person gets checked out and something is flagged up, and if this piece affects even one person, I class that as job done.”

http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/bobbymoorefund

http://www.cancerresearchuk.org

Jemma Kidd opens up about her panic attacks.

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Model, Business Woman and Make-up Artist Jemma Kidd Speaks Out About Her Crippling Anxiety, Panic Attacks And The Man Who ‘Transformed’ Her Life.

A national magazine today broke the story that Jemma Kidd has kept secret for most of her adult life. The celebrity Make-up Artist and sister of model Jodie Kidd (who also suffered from panic attacks and anxiety) would appear to the public and the majority of people that know her to have led a charmed and carefree life. Today, she revealed that crippling anxiety and panic attacks plagued her throughout her twenties until she and her sister came across Charles Linden and his program for anxiety disorder recovery.

“The attacks are so random and debilitating that you become fearful of the fear that they bring. You start to anticipate them and find yourself doing anything to avoid them. I stopped driving on my own. I manipulated my life so that when I had to go somewhere, I had someone with me. I couldn’t go into the supermarket or anywhere crowded. If I was going to stay at someone’s house for the weekend, I would be anxious for about ten days before and would insist on knowing how close they lived to a hospital. The symptoms were so real that I believed I could have a heart attack at any time,” Jemma states.

Jemma went online and came across the website of Charles Linden, 42, a former TV producer from Kidderminster, Worcestershire, who suffered from chronic anxiety for more than seven years and subsequently developed his own method of treating anxiety, panic attacks, phobias and obsessive compulsive disorder. “I bought his book and CD and read his story, which was 50 times worse than mine, and it made me realise that I could do something to help myself. Within days, I was feeling better,” says Jemma.

Jemma has since met Charles and agreed to work with him at his residential anxiety recovery retreats in Worcestershire. “I have been on one myself and seen how transformational his work is.”

Since curing himself in 1998, Charles and the team at The Linden Centre have helped over 139,000 anxiety sufferers internationally. Of Jemma’s recovery, Charles comments: “Jemma and her sister Jodie are a fantastic example of how the method works to put people back in control of their lives. We are very excited to have Jemma on board encouraging other sufferers to start their recovery asap.

“We at The Linden Centre are so proud to have guided tens of thousands of anxiety sufferers through the program, which shows them how to make changes in their lives to affect the way the mind perceives its environment – which in turn, switches of the anxiety response in humans. It really is very simple.”

On Tuesday 25th January, Charles will be hosting a one-off live webchat at www.charles-linden.com/webcast . Between 7pm and 9pm GMT, Charles is encouraging sufferers and carers to log on and ask him anything in relation to Anxiety Disorders and The Linden Method.

Anyone who would like to find out more can also contact The Linden Method support centre and speak to one of their advisers on 01562 742 004 Monday- Friday 9am – 5pm.

Full story was in The Mail on Sunday’s You magazine 23rd Jan 2011.

Keep your New Year’s Resolution with Marie Curie Cancer Care. {Health}

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Whether your goal is to get fit, lose weight, meet new people or do something adventurous in 2011, Marie Curie Cancer Care is offering challenges to fulfil those common New Year’s resolutions.

This week, Marie Curie Cancer Care is launching its programme of events and challenges for the coming year, Rise to the Challenge, offering everything from runs, treks, triathlons and cycle rides to swimming, walking and dancing.

If you’re looking to get in shape in 2011, Marie Curie has nationwide running events all year round, from marathons to local fun runs. And if your ambition is to see the world this year, the charity’s South African Cycle Challenge along the stunning Garden Route might be just the way to satisfy your wanderlust.

Fabian French, Director of Fundraising at Marie Curie Cancer Care, said: “New Year’s resolutions often fall by the wayside before January is over, but Marie Curie Cancer Care has events and challenges throughout the year to help you stick to, and achieve, your aims for 2011. Whether you want to improve your fitness, have fun or get outdoors more, there’s something for everyone. So why not take up a challenge, fulfil your ambitions and help raise valuable funds for Marie Curie Nurses, who provide free care to people with terminal cancer and other illnesses in their own homes.”

New Year’s Resolution Suggested Marie Curie Challenge

Get fit Dextro Energy Triathlon

Lose weight Marathons, 10k events and Fun Runs

Reduce stress Swimathon

Travel South African Cycle Challenge

Meet new people Daffodil Dance

Get outdoors more UK mountain challenges

Spend more time with friends and family Walk Ten

Enjoy life and have more fun Ladies’ Driving Challenges

Do something adventurous Parachuting, zipwires and abseils

Volunteer and help others Organise your own event

To take part in an event or challenge for Marie Curie Cancer Care, telephone 08700 340 040, visit: www.mariecurie.org.uk/challenge or email: events@mariecurie.org.uk