As NHS colleagues prepare to take part in local parkruns across the country to celebrate the NHS turning 75, Humber and North Yorkshire Cancer Alliance staff are marking the milestone birthday by setting an ambitious challenge that will see them complete a distance equivalent to 15,000 parkruns.
Being active can help to lower the risk of some cancers, including breast and bowel cancer, and that is why the Cancer Alliance team is aiming to collectively walk, run, swim or cycle 75,000km during the NHS’s 75th birthday year.
The challenge, which will see staff participate in a series of events throughout the year, is beginning with an event at Health House in Willerby on Tuesday, 4th July 2023. Using a treadmill and an exercise bike, the team will be in a race against time to clock up a total of 75kms in just seven and a half hours.
Dr Dan Cottingham
Dr Dan Cottingham, Cancer Research UK GP Lead for Humber and North Yorkshire Cancer Alliance, said: “We wanted to mark this special occasion by taking extra steps to promote the benefits of maintaining an active lifestyle.
“Regular exercise can help someone to lose weight or stay at a healthy weight, which can lower the risks of many types of cancer, and there is evidence to show that doing lots of exercise can prevent breast and bowel cancer directly.
“Physical activity can also have positive benefits for people living with cancer, such as fewer side effects or a quicker recovery, and healthcare professionals may encourage exercise during different stages of cancer or treatment.
“The Cancer Alliance is excited to be embarking on a challenge that will encourage everyone affected by cancer to benefit from activities that not only help to look after our health and wellbeing, but also provide opportunities for socialising and developing new skills.”
