Saturday 10 October 1998
Fathers, brothers and uncles were invited to "join the girls" last Saturday 10 October, and take part in a sponsored aerobics session to help raise money for the Institute of Cancer Research's everyman campaign.
The event, which was held at the Chelsea Sports Centre on the Kings Road, was organised as a finale to European "Men and Cancer" Week and was a challenge to new faces and regulars alike to last the distance by "working out" for two hours.
Ten aerobics instructors led a class of over forty people, including ten men! The general manager of the sports centre, Sean Cashin, also joined in the fun and demonstrated his solidarity with the other men taking part in the event.
Louise Lawton, Community Fundraising Manager at the ICR said, "On behalf of the Institute I would like to thank everyone at the Chelsea Sports Centre and all those who took part in the aerobathon for their commitment and enthusiasm. As well as helping to raise funds for a neglected cause, the event was a great way of raising awareness of the need to look after men's health and, in particular, of highlighting the risks of prostate and testicular cancers."
The ICR's everyman - action against male cancer campaign was launched in September 1997 to raise funds for the building of the UK's first dedicated male cancer research centre at the Institute of Cancer Research and to promote greater awareness of a subject which is traditionally taboo among men.
Prostate cancer is predicted to overtake both lung and breast cancer to become the most commonly diagnosed cancer in the UK by 2018. Despite this, less than <1 million is spent in the UK each year on prostate cancer research compared to <16 million on breast cancer.
Testicular cancer is the most common cancer to affect young men between the ages of 20 and 35 years. Cases have doubled in the last 20 years, yet a 1998 MORI poll revealed men are dangerously ignorant - over 80% of men know little or nothing about it.
The ICR is one of the world's leading cancer centres and is based on Fulham Road and in Sutton.
- ends -
For further information please contact The Press Office on:-
Tel: 0207 970 6030
email: [email protected]
Please note:
Unfortunately the press office are unable to answer queries from the general public. For general cancer information please refer to The Institute's cancer information page.