Husband and wife’s pink ride to fund breast cancer research
Press Release For immediate release: 10 May 2010 Press contact: Louise Garrahan, Media Relations Officer, Breast Cancer Campaign, DD 0207 749 3724, Email: lgarrahan@breastcancercampaign.org Husband and wife’s pink ride to fund breast cancer research Local cyclist Melinda Matthews and her husband Mike Clarkson from Lothian in Edinburgh will gear up to beat breast cancer this Sunday (16 May) by taking part in Breast Cancer Campaign’s cycling event, Pedal it Pink. The duo will join hundreds of people at Scotland’s very first Pedal it Pink in Holyrood Park, Edinburgh after Melinda’s grandmother, aunt and close friend all had breast cancer. Melinda said: “My grandmother beat breast cancer in the 1980s, my aunt was successfully treated in the 90s and my friend was diagnosed in 2005 followed by two work colleagues in the last year. Thankfully I don’t know anyone who has died from this disease but it has affected a lot of people close to me so I want to take part in the event for them. I think Pedal it Pink will help to raise awareness and funding but also show the positive will of the human body to fight cancer.” Pedal it Pink has a variety of cycle routes to choose from so there is something to suit all abilities. Beginners can opt for the family 5K lap (which is also open to the men and children in your life) and those wishing to push themselves that little bit further can select either a half (13.1miles) or full (26.2miles) marathon distance, which are for women only. All routes are completely enclosed in the park, so it’s safe, traffic-free and suitable for all existing and aspiring cyclists. If you would like to join Melinda and Mike at Pedal it Pink and help put the brakes on breast cancer, please register on the day from 10am onwards at the event village which is located near Dynamic Earth and Scottish Parliament. It costs £15 for the full marathon, £10 for the half marathon and £5 for the family 5k lap. There are no bike hire facilities on site so please come ready to cycle. Cycling is a great form of cardiovascular exercise, which helps to burn fat and if done regularly contributes to a healthy lifestyle. Cycling is also great for toning leg muscles and can burn up to 500 calories an hour. ENDS Picture caption: Melinda Matthews Notes to editors • Breast Cancer Campaign aims to beat breast cancer by funding innovative world-class research to understand how breast cancer develops, leading to improved diagnosis, treatment, prevention and cure • Currently it supports 114 research projects, worth over £17.1 million, in 40 centres of excellence across the UK and Ireland • Breast cancer is the most common cancer in the UK and accounts for nearly one in three of all cancers in women • In the UK, nearly 46,000 new cases of breast cancer are diagnosed each year - that’s 125 a day • Visit www.breastcancercampaign.org • Read Chief Executive Pamela Goldberg’s blog http://pamelagoldbergblog.blogspot.com/ • Breast Cancer Campaign is campaigning for all candidates standing for election to Westminster to sign up to the breast cancer research pledge: www.breastcancercampaign.org/election
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