Cancer Prevention Blog

Beat the Banana! in Hyde Park

A May afternoon in London’s picturesque Hyde Park: rollerbladers are practising moves, dog owners are walking their pets, couples are boating on the Serpentine – and hundreds of people have their running shoes on and are getting ready to chase a giant banana along a 5km route.

Yes, it’s Beat the Banana!, World Cancer Research Fund’s annual run for cancer prevention.

Runners are signed in, numbers pinned to yellow Beat the Banana! t-shirts and bags dropped off. Nerves are showing for some people – you can tell … Continue Reading

Thanks WCRF marathon runners

Sunday’s London Marathon was a great day for World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) runners, with most achieving the finishing times they had set themselves and raising a lot of money for cancer prevention at the same time.

A total of 27 people entered as WCRF runners, with two competitors entered on behalf of our sister organisation, the American Institute of Cancer Research (AICR). Another ten who secured their place through the runners’ ballot promised to raise cash for WCRF, making a total of 39 running under the WCRF/AICR … Continue Reading

Healthy Workplace Challenges can boost company's performance

There is a growing interest in how the work environment can help to promote health and encourage healthy behaviour.

Research carried out by World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) shows that health and wellbeing programmes have a positive economic impact on businesses, with benefits including reduced staff sickness, absence and turnover; increased employee satisfaction; and a rise in productivity.

In addition, a study by the British Dietetic Association found that:

• During their working life, the average British worker spends around £2 a … Continue Reading
  
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Gift Aid pays money to charity, not the taxman

There have been a lot of column inches devoted recently to the government’s plan to curb the tax breaks available to donors who give more than £50,000 to charity.

World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) has signed up to the Give It Back, George campaign (see previous post) calling on the chancellor to abandon the proposal.

Donations of more than £50,000 form a small proportion of the money received at WCRF for our cancer prevention education and … Continue Reading

Cycling can reduce cancer risk

Cycling continues to grow in popularity – not only as a handy way of getting from A to B but also as a pleasurable weekend activity. It’s convenient, environmentally friendly and can help keep you fit, which is an important way of helping reduce your cancer risk.

With the rise of two-wheel transport on the road, tensions can arise that can put cyclists, pedestrians and motorists at greater risk.  But there are simple steps that you can take to protect yourself and continue to … Continue Reading

Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne

WCRF is one of the signatories to the Give It Back, George campaign calling on the Chancellor of the Exchequer to repeal a measure in last week’s Budget that would cap tax relief on charitable donations.

The decision to deny tax relief to those donating more than £50,000 will have a direct negative impact on the income we receive from generous public gifts.

In one fell swoop, George Osborne has placed an deterrent in the path of those who wish to give more than £50,000 … Continue Reading

Salt: Getting too much?

It is essential to all animals in small quantities and has been used as a seasoning and preservative for millennia. But the proliferation of salt in the modern diet means we should try to limit our intake for health reasons.

Consuming too much salt is linked to high blood pressure – which increases our risk of heart disease and stroke – osteoporosis, kidney disease and stomach cancer, the seventh most deadly cancer in the UK.

This week … Continue Reading

Minimum price on alcohol proposed

It’s good to see the government taking action to deal with the health and social problems caused by drinking too much alcohol, which is why we welcome plans revealed today to introduce a minimum price for alcohol.

David Cameron’s proposal for alcohol to cost at least 40p per unit will tackle the loss-leading sale of beer, cider and wine for less than the value of the tax on it by retailers who use alcohol as a way to get customers into their stores.

This is great news because … Continue Reading

Plant-based diets reduce cancer risk

Having a plant-based diet plays a big role in reducing cancer risk. While not advocating a wholly vegetarian diet, WCRF advises people to include plant foods such as vegetables, fruits, wholegrains and pulses in their meals to boost their intake of fibre and other nutrients.

Research shows fruit and veg probably protects against a range of cancers including mouth, pharynx, larynx, oesophageal, stomach, lung, pancreatic and prostate. It is also probable that dietary fibre reduces the risk of getting bowel cancer.

As well as being full of … Continue Reading

Food choices are affected by Government policy

News that the Government’s Responsibility Deal is floundering just 12 months after it was launched is sad, but not unexpected.

Unfortunately the deal – which aims to tackle barriers to healthy eating – relies too heavily on the good will of food producers and manufacturers.

On the first anniversary of the deal, consumer campaigning group Which? has assessed the scheme and has found it wanting.

Among the shortcomings of the … Continue Reading