CELEBS ‘STEP UP’ TO SUPPORT STEP UP FOR 30

ITV’s Loose Women Nadia Sawalha, former BBC Strictly Come Dancing pro Flavia Cacace and nineties fitness guru Mr Motivator are encouraging the nation to get sponsored to do 30 minutes of physical activity every day for 30 days in June for Bowel Cancer UK. Every 30 minutes someone dies of bowel cancer in the UK. 

The charity’s latest fundraising challenge, Step up for 30, inspires people to take up regular exercise and be more active to reduce their risk of the disease. Every year almost 42,000 people are diagnosed with bowel cancer, it’s the fourth most common cancer in the UK.

Research shows that taking part in regular physical activity, which is 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity such as cycling or fast walking every week, can decrease your risk of bowel cancer. However a poll commissioned by Bowel Cancer UK reveals that nearly a third of people living in Wales (29%) do not have enough energy to exercise for 150 minutes every week.

ITV’s Loose Women, Nadia Sawalha, shares how she increased her fitness: “When I first started to exercise, it felt very daunting. So I started off with walking and then those ten minute walks turned into runs and later on they were marathons. Start small and then build your way up.”

Professional dancer and former BBC Strictly Come Dancing pro, Flavia Cacace who is supporting the fundraising challenge, says: “I make sure to fit in a workout wherever I can. Wherever that’s a ten minute brisk walk to the shops, a quickstep whilst the kettle boils or a 15 minute more intense cardio session, it all adds up. That’s why I’m supporting Bowel Cancer UK’s Step up for 30 challenge. It’s a great way to get fit and discover types of exercise you love doing.”

Mr Motivator, who is most famous for his live fitness classes on GMTV in the 1990s, says: “Both my wife and I are aware of bowel cancer and make sure to take our screening tests when they arrive every two years, but we also try and make lifestyle choices that lower our risk of developing bowel cancer. Exercise is obviously a huge part of my life but knowing the massive effect that just 30 minutes of exercise a day can have on my long term health, is a great extra motivator.”

Luke Squires, Director of Fundraising at Bowel Cancer UK says: “It’s really easy to get involved, there’s lots of creative ways you can get sponsored and get active during the month – doing squats while the kettle boils, taking the stairs rather than the lift, going for a walk during their lunch break, getting off the bus a stop early or even hoola-hooping during the TV adverts! Bowel cancer is the UK’s second biggest cancer killer but with your help we can change that.”

Sign up for Step up for 30 here: bowelcanceruk.org.uk/stepupfor30