Health
Rise to the Challenge and Raise Awareness: Bowel Cancer UK Launches 5-A DAY
As part of April's Bowel Cancer Awareness Month, charity Bowel Cancer UK is launching a fun new initiative called the 5-A-DAY Challenge, in partnership with the Department of Health's 5-A-DAY campaign.
The 5-A-DAY Challenge is a simple and enjoyable way to encourage healthy eating, raise awareness of bowel cancer and raise funds for Bowel Cancer UK. It also shows people how they can improve their eating habits and help to reduce their risk of getting the disease.
All participants need to do is ask their friends, family or work colleagues to sponsor them to eat five different portions of fruit and vegetables every day. This isn't difficult, since one portion is equal, for example, to just seven strawberries, a glass of orange juice or an apple. Participants can also choose how long their challenge lasts: it could be a week, two weeks, or a whole month.
Although ideal for families, the challenge is also perfectly suited to the workplace and schools. Teachers can promote it as a fun challenge in their classrooms, by asking pupils to give a presentation about the project or encouraging them to take part as a group. Work colleagues can get together to take part in the challenge and promote it via their newsletter or intranet.
Visit www.5aday.nhs.uk <http://www.5aday.nhs.uk/> for helpful information about the initiative, such as what counts as a portion, tips on reaching the daily target, and recipes.
There is no minimum sponsorship and funds can be raised for Bowel Cancer UK through a specially-designed sponsorship form (where sponsors can choose to support participants per portion or by maximum amount) or via a personal sponsorship page on the Justgiving website: www.justgiving.com/bowelcanceruk <http://www.justgiving.com/bowelcanceruk> . Collection tins and posters to promote the challenge will also be available upon request.
Community Fundraising Manager Louise Wheeler says:
"Getting children to eat more fruit and vegetables has always been an uphill struggle, but we are hoping that by encouraging them to take part in our 5-a-DAY Challenge it will persuade them to eat more healthily. This is a good habit to get into - whatever age you are - and could help reduce the chances of getting many different illnesses, including bowel cancer. So, go on, give it a try; it's easier than you think!"
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