1 May 2012

Twilight Walk 2012 - getting active to beat cancer!

Cancer charity Breast Foot Forward is urging people to put their own best foot forward to beat the disease at a Twilight Walk in Dundee this summer - with all proceeds going to a pioneering cancer recovery programme in the city.

The Twilight Walk will take place on Saturday June 2nd and everyone is invited to get involved. The charity is this year supporting the Active ABC cancer recovery programme at the University of Dundee.

"The Twilight Walk is our main fundraising event of the year and offers a great day out with friends, family and colleagues," said Liz Milligan from Breast Foot Forward.

"We have chosen to do the walk in Dundee this year because of the excellent work being done at the University by Dr Anna Campbell on the Active ABC recovery programme for people who have had breast cancer. The money collected from the Dundee walk will go directly towards supporting projects to help cancer survivors in Dundee.

"Every penny of the sponsorship money collected by our walkers and supporters has gone directly to our beneficiaries who are developing projects based on research into breast cancer. This has been extended into prostrate cancer this year. The charity's aim is to help establish Dundee as a known centre of excellence for the recovery from both types of cancer."

Dundee is one of the few cities in the UK to provide an exercise programme in the community to those living with cancer. The Institute of Sport and Exercise (ISE) at the University runs Active ABC, a weekly group exercise class for women with breast cancer and is hoping to launch a wider cancer rehab programme to include men with prostate cancer.

Dr Anna Campbell, who developed the Active ABC (After Breast Cancer) programme, has been researching the effects of exercise after a cancer diagnosis for the past 12 years.

She said, "There is strong evidence to show that staying active during and after cancer treatment can provide long term physical and psychological benefits and can give patients the confidence to get back to normal.

"We are absolutely delighted that Breast Foot Forward are showing such great support for our work and we would urge as many people as possible to join the Twilight Walk - not only are you helping us but you will getting the benefits of exercise at the same time!"

Pam Kelly was diagnosed with breast cancer just over two years ago. She now regularly joins the Active ABC class at ISE every Friday after first hearing about it at a support group meeting at the Maggie's Centre in Dundee.

"I thought the class sounded perfect for me and it really has been just that," said Pam (48). "It has been one of the things that has really helped me towards what I call a `new normality' since I was diagnosed with cancer and the subsequent treatment. It is like a support group that also happens to be an exercise class, at a level designed specifically for us.

"I've had real benefits from it. Obviously the exercise is good but there is also a psychological side to it. I think it has helped build my confidence, I've met new people and made new friends through it. And it shows that exercise isn't just something to help prevent you getting ill, it can play a big part in helping you recover."

The Twilight Walk takes place at 4pm on Saturday June 2nd. Participants are asked to walk either a 7-mile or 10-mile walk. The starting point is the University playing fields on Riverside. From there walkers will head towards the city centre along the waterfront before coming back out along Perth Road and towards the west end and Invergowrie.

There is still plenty of time to get involved and anyone wanting to join the walk is urged to register by contacting Breast Foot Forward by email at info@breastfootforward.org or by phone or text message on 07591 007540 or contact ise on tel: 01382 385177.

More information is available on the Breast Foot Forward website at www.breastfootforward.org.

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