29/03-10   -   Press releases

Local teacher cycles in pink to beat breast cancer

Local cyclist Sue Virciglio from Waltham Abbey, Essex geared up to beat breast cancer on Sunday (28 March) at Breast Cancer Campaign’s women-only cycling event, Pedal it Pink.

The teacher from Eastfield Primary School in Enfield joined 500 women to cycle 29 miles at River Lee Country Park to support several friends and work colleagues who have had breast cancer. Sue finished the course in three and a half hours and raised more than £500 to fund vital breast cancer research.

She said afterwards: “It was hard work but well worth it. It was an excellent route and everyone was so friendly, pedestrians kept saying ‘well done’ as we cycled past them. It was a great event and I’d love to come back next year."

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. 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 take part in the next Pedal it Pink in Sefton Park, Liverpool on Sunday 18 April please visit www.breastcancercampaign.org, email pedalitpink@breastcancercampaign.org or call 020 7749 3700 to sign up. It costs £15 for the full marathon, £10 for the half marathon and £5 for the family 5k lap.

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.

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 117 research projects, worth over £17.3 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