The Isle of Wight Cycling Festival, 13th-21st September 2008 needs you
The Isle of Wight Cycling Festival, 13th-21st September 2008 needs you
Are you passionate about your pushbike?
Do you enjoy the breathtaking beauty of the Island’s natural wonders all from the saddle of your bike?
Would you like to be a key member of the UK’s largest cycling festival?
If any of the above apply to you why not join this year’s Isle of Wight Cycling Festival as a volunteer ride leader?
The event has gone from strength to strength and we are now looking to increase our team of dedicated cycling enthusiasts, without whom the event would not be possible.
The Square to Square Charity Cycle Challenge Team 2008 will be one of the groups of volunteer ride leaders.
For further details, please contact Claire Critchison, Isle of Wight Council Events Team, on 01983 203891, e-mail claire.whttington@iow.gov.uk by 30th April 2008.
Isle of Wight Cycling Festival 2008
The dates for the 2008 festival are
13th – 21st September
Provosional dates for the main events are:
Launch day and Sink or Swim – Saturday 13th September
West Wight Triathlon – Sunday 14th September
Hills Killer – Sunday 14th September
Go ride – Saturday 20th September
Singles Cycle – Saturday 20th September
Wight Challenge – Sunday 21st September
Round the Island route – Sunday 21st September
These dates will be confirmed as soon as possible.
Source: Isle of Wight Cycling Festival
Isle of Wight Schools Development Day February 2008
Isle of Wight Schools Development Day, Friday 29th February 2008 at Ventnor Cricket Academy, Ventnor, Isle of Wight
The Isle of Wight Schools Development Day is taking place on Friday 29th February 2008 and the Square to Square Charity Cycle Challenge 2008 team will be attending the event to raise awareness of Go-Ride and the Square to Square Charity Cycle Challenge 2008.
Also attending will be Phillip Darnton, Chief Executive of Cycling England, Tony Doyle MBE (ex-World Champion British Cyclist), Mark Adams from British Cycling and Roger Johnson from BBC South Today
The event is from 9.15am to 4pm.
The Square to Square Charity Cycle Challenge Team 2008 will be attending to present to the guests details of the challenge and how schools can get involved, with both the Square to Square Charity Cycle Challenge 2008 and Go-Ride from British Cycling.
Related links
Prostate Cancer Awareness Week, 10-16 March 2008
The Prostate Cancer Charity – Prostate Cancer Awareness Week, 10 to 16th March 2008
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men in the UK. Each year 35,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer and 10,000 men die – that’s one man every hour.
From 17th February you can show your support by purchasing a pin badge at your local Marks and Spencer store or buying specially designed Marks and Spencer menswear merchandise in selected stores to raise vital funds to support the work of the Prostate Cancer Charity with men and their families.
The Prostate Cancer Charity is fighting prostate cancer on every front – through research, support, information and campaigning.
Prostate Cancer – some information
Where is the prostate gland
The prostate gland is the shape and size of a walnut and sits underneath the bladder. It surrounds the tube that men pass urine and semen through (the urethra) which is why, if something is wrong, it can cause problems with a man’s waterworks.
What does the prostate do?
The prostate gland is important to a man’s sexual function. The gland’s main jobs are to support the neck of he bladder and to make up some of the fluid of semen.
What are the symptoms?
The following symptoms may be a sign of a prostate problem, but many men with early prostate cancer will no have any symtoms at all. These symptoms can be caused by other non-cancerous problems so it’s important to visit your GP to find out what is wrong:
- needing to urinate more often, expecially at night.
- needing to rush to the toilet, so that you may even leak uring sometimes
- difficulty starting or taking a long time to finish urinating
- a weak flow
- dribbling
- feeling that the bladder hasn’t emptied properly
Who is at risk?
Most men diagnosed with prostate cancer are aged over 50. You are more likely to get prostate cancer if your father or brother has been diagnosed. African Caribbean men are three times more likely to be diagnosed than white men.
The Prostate Cancer Charity recommends that men may be able to reduce their risk by eating less animal fat, eating more fruit and vegetables and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
Where can I go to find out more?
The Prostate Cancer Charity provides free information about prostate cancer and other prostate problems.
The Charity’s confidential Helpline is staffed by specialist nurses.
Call 0800 074 8383
Mon-Fri 10am to 4pm, Wed 7pm to 9pm
Calls are free of charge from UK landlines.
Mobile charges may vary.
For more information or to doante, visit www.prostate-cancer.org.uk
SQ2SQ 2008 Team raise £1,024 at Marks and Spencer store, Newport, Isle of Wight
The Square to Square Charity Cycle Challenge Team 2008 raise £1,024.51 at Marks and Spencer store, Newport on Saturday 23 February 2008.
The SQ2SQ Charity Cycle Challenge Team, Green Watch and suppporters raise £1,024.51 during a fundraising and promotion day at Marks and Spencer, Newport, Isle of Wight on Saturday 23 February 2008, between 9.30am and 3.30pm.
Thank you to all who donated to the challenge and sponsored the team.
The Team would like to thank the Manager of Marks and Spencer, Newport, for kindly allowing the team to be in the entrance foyers of the store to allow them to complete their fundraising and promotion.
The total now raised, as at 23 February, is £22.466.61.
Isle of Wight tradesmen and women unaware of risk from asbestos related diseases
Isle of Wight tradesmen and women at risk from asbestos related diseases, but many are unaware of the dangers.
A British Lung Foundation foundation study has found that nationally just 12% of 400 tradespeople questioned knw exposure to asbestos could lead to them developing the incurable lung cancer mesothelioma (as reported by BBC News Online: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/7256692.stm).
With three-quarters not having had any training on dealing with asbestos and just over 25% thought some levels were safe.
Asbestos was commonly used for insulation and as a fire-retardant in buildings until the mid-1980s.
The British Lung Foundation wants mesothelioma to become a disease of the past, but until people put their health first and protect themselves against asbestos that goal can’t be reached.
Many buildings built or refurbished before the year 2,000 could contain asbestos, says The Health and Safety Executive. It is currently the main cause of work-related ill-health.
Asbestos poses a risk through its fibres, which can become lodged in the lungs when breathed in.
Tradespeople have the highest risk of developing mesothelioma – 20 die from the disease each week and deaths are continuing to rise.
The cancer develops between 15 and 60 years after exposure to asbestos and the BLF is warning that cases are set to peak between 2011 and 2015.
Site checks for builders, carpenters, plumbers, electricians, joiners and gas fitters.
The survey conducted for builders, carpenters, plumbers, electricians, joiners and gas fitters, found that one in 10 had felt under pressure to continue working even if they suspected asbestos was present.
In addition, nearly a third mistakenly believed all asbestos had now been removed from British buildings.
Just over 25% thought some levels of asbestos were safe, with builders most likely to think there was no risk.
The majority of tradesmen – 81% – said they never, rarely or only sometimes asked if the site they were working on had been checked for asbestos before they started a job – even though it is a legal requirement for them to be informed if it is present.
Dame Helena Shovelton, British LUng Fondation Chief Executive, said: “It is a great worry that those most at risk of this cruel cancer know so little about a killer that could be lurking in the building they’re working on today.
“We want mesothelioma to become a disease of the past, but until people put their health first and protect themselves against asbestos that goal can’t be reached.”
‘Serious threat’
A spokesman for the Federation of Master Builders agreed there was too little knowledge about the risks.
He said: “The problem is that there is a general misconception, particularly amongst tradesmen and home owners, that asbestos is a thing of the past so there is no need to worry about it.
“Tradesmen need to understand that this is a serious threat that could be present in any job that they go to, and that they need to understand how to identify asbestos, and what to do when they find it.”
All those who work in the building industry, or a related trade, are encouraged to go the Health and Safety Executive website for information on working with asbestos.
Isle of Wight Boat Building Industry and Mesothelioma
With a long tradition of boat building on the Isle of Wight many have been affected by the diseases associated with exposure to asbestos and other toxic chemicals and compounds many years ago.
Isle of Wight boatbuilders have been affected a great deal in the past and whilst safeguards have been put in place, the very nature of mesothelioma means that there can be a 20-30 year gap between exposure and an individual showing signs of the disease.
Firefighters and Mesotherlioma and other lung cancers
A firefighter’s duties inherently involve a level of risk of exposure to dangerous chemicals and compounds. By the vey nature of thir job firefighters have to go into areas where there are noxious fumes, whether this is in a building fire or a chemical incident.
By the very nature of their job firefighters go into situations where most others do not wish to go for fear of death or serious injury. Unfortunately in a six month period of 2007/08 seven UK firefighters have lost their lives on duty.
Whilst the utmost precautions are taken today, with the use of chemical airtight suits and breathing apparatus, this was not always the case in the past.
Many firefighters have had to retire due to ill health from exposure to noxiuous chemicals; some unfortunately have suffered lung diseases, including mesothelioma.
Mesothelioma and the Square to Square Charity Cycle Challenge Appeal
One of the aims of the Square to Square Challenge is to provide a thorascope for St Mary’s Hospital, Newport, Isle of Wight.
A thorascope (more details on thoracopes here) can be used to diagnose and allow for prompt treatment of mesothelioma and other lung related cancers.
Isle of Wight boatbuilders have been affected a great deal in the past and whilst safeguards have been put in place, the very nature of mesothelioma means that there can be a 20-30 year gap between exposure and an individual showing signs of the disease.
The Square to Square Charity Cycle Challenge Taam 2008 are also very aware of the way firefighter collagues nationally and internationally have suffered as a result of exposure to noxious chemicals and fumes and have suffered ill-health as a result. Naturally this makes this particular appeal all the more personal to them.
All rights acknowledged.
Marks and Spencer, Newport, Isle of Wight and the Square to Square Charity Cycle Challenge 2008 – Saturday 23 February 2008, 9.30am to 3.30pm
The Square to Square Charity Cycle Challenge Team will be at Marks and Spencer, Church Litten, Newport, Isle of Wight on Saturday 23 February from 9.30am to 3.30pm.
Marks and Spencers have kindly agreed to allow the team an area for display, promotion and fundraising of the Square to Square Charity Cycle Challenge 2008.
Visit Marks and Spencers, Newport, Isle of Wight and meet the team, find out more about the challenge and sponser the team or donate to the SQ2SQ Charity Cycle Challenge Appeal 2008.
Find Marks and Spencer, Newport, Isle of Wight here via Google Maps
Car wash on 9 February 2008 raises £2,167.82 for the Square to Square Charity Cycle Challenge 2008
Fundraising car wash held on Saturday 9 February 2008 raises £2,167.82 for the Square to Square Charity Cycle Challenge 2008
A fundraising car wash, held on Saturday 9 February 2008, at Newport Fire Station, Newport, Isle of Wight, raises £2,167.82 for the Square to Square Charity Cycle Challenge 2008.
Members of the team, firefighters from Green Watch, White Watch, Headquarters Support Staff, Isle o Wight Fire Control Centre staff, Wessex Cancer Trust volunteers, family and friends completed seven hours of car washing and raised an impressive £2,167.82 for the cycle challenge.
This total includes a generous donation of £100 from Medina Cricket Club.
The team would like to thanks all those that took part in the car wash, particularly Green Watch amd White Watch for all their hardwork and suport for the challenge and of course all those who had their cars washed and kindly donated to the challenge.
Thank you.
Together with the generous donation from Home Estate Agents, Ryde (see the Home Estate Agents news story here) the grand total for the Square to Square Charity Cycle Challenge 2008 is a superb £21,442.46 as at 9 February 2008.
Home Estate Agents Ryde Isle of Wight donate £2500 for SQ2SQ Charity Cycle Challenge 2008 appeal
Home Estate Agents Ryde Isle of Wight donate £2500 for Square to Square Charity Cycle Challenge 2008 appeal
Home Estate, Agents, based in Ryde, Isle of Wight have kindly donated £2,500 to the Square to Square Charity Cycle Challenge 2008 appeal.
This is a very generous and kind donation to the appeal.
Thank you to Home Estate Agents, Ryde.
Charity car wash Saturday 9th February 08 for Square to Square Charity Cycle Challenge 2008
Car wash for Square to Square Charity Cycle Challenge 2008 to be held on Saturday 9 February 2008, 10am to 3pm (approx) at Newport Fire Station, South Street, Newport, Isle of Wight
A car wash for the Square to Square Charity Cycle Challenge 2008 is to be held on Saturday 9 February 2008 from 10 to 3pm (approx).
All are welcome to attend to get your filthy, salt ridden car washed by Square to Square Charity Cycle Challenge 2008 team, supporters and firefighter colleagues.
The car wash will take place at Newport Fire Station, Newport, Isle of Wight - find Newport Fire Station here via Google Maps