19 June 2011

Exercise class puts breast foot forward

Photo opportunity - 1.30 pm, Monday June 20th
Institute of Sport and Exercise, University of Dundee
Old Hawkhill,

An innovative exercise class at the University of Dundee which supports women who have, or have had, breast cancer has been boosted by an award of £15,000 in funding from the charity Breast Foot Forward.

The Active ABC programme at the University’s Institute of Sport and Exercise is for women during and after their treatment for breast cancer.

'Research has shown that being active during and after treatment helps to counteract the physical and psychological side effects of breast cancer and its treatments,' said Dr Anna Campbell, Lecturer in Sports Biomedicine at the University.

'Issues such as muscle deconditioning and weakness, general tiredness, depression, all of these can be helped by being active and doing exercise.

'We are working closely with the breast cancer teams in NHS Tayside to established physical activity consultations and classes as one element of the wider treatment programme given to patients.

'This funding from Breast Foot Forward is a major boost for the programme.'

The Active ABC class already has around 15participants and the numbers are increasing on a montly basis

Dr Sally Beattie from Breast Foot Forward will present the £15,000 cheque to the ISE team on Monday June 20th.

Dr Beattie said, 'We raise money through sponsored walks specifically to support projects in Scotland which provide support and care for people who have or have had breast cancer. This programme is one which has clear benefits for patients and we are delighted to give our support.'

NOTES TO EDITORS

ABOUT BREAST FOOT FORWARD
Who?
Breast Foot Forward is a non-profit making charity set up to raise money in order to improve the standard of breast cancer treatment and research in Scotland. No one draws a salary or expenses from Breast Foot Forward. Administration costs are as low as possible, so money goes to where it is really needed.

Why?
Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in the UK. Everyone knows someone directly affected in some way by cancer, one in 10 women will at some point develop breast cancer and 300 men each year are affected by breast cancer. The money raised in Scotland stays in Scotland.

www.breast.etellect.co.uk.

For media enquiries contact:
Roddy Isles
Head, Press Office
University of Dundee
Nethergate, Dundee, DD1 4HN
TEL: 01382 384910
E-MAIL: r.isles@dundee.ac.uk
MOBILE: 07800 581902