06/09-10   -   Press releases

Pravina pedals in pink for breast cancer research

Local cyclist Pravina Mistry from Rugby, Warwickshire will gear up to beat breast cancer this October by taking part in Breast Cancer Campaign’s women’s cycling event, Pedal it Pink.

The Distribution Co-ordinator will join hundreds of women at the National Water Sports Centre in Nottingham for the city’s second annual event on Sunday 17 October to support the 45,500 women who are diagnosed with breast cancer in the UK each year.

Pravina said: “I’m fortunate that none of my family has been affected by breast cancer but I do have friends whose relatives have suffered through it but thankfully survived. This is one of the reasons I am taking part in Pedal it Pink – I have seen how Breast Cancer Campaign helps save people and I want to do everything I can to raise money to support their research. I hope lots of people will sponsor me as it’s a really worthwhile cause and hopefully more women in my area will sign up and take part with me on the day."

Pravina is taking on the half marathon so if you would like to sponsor her, please visit www.justgiving.com/Pravina-Mistry and donate what you can.

Pedal it Pink, sponsored by Santander, has a variety of cycle routes to choose from so there is something to suit all abilities. Beginners can opt for the 5k Family 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 join Pravina at Pedal it Pink and help put the brakes on breast cancer, please visit www.breastcancercampaign.org, email pedalitpink(AT)breastcancercampaign.org or call 020 7749 3700 to sign up. It costs £15 for the marathon, £10 for the half marathon and £5 for the family 5k lap.

At last year’s event 550 women cycled around the National Water Sports Centre at Holme Pierrepont and raised a whopping £35,000. In total, four Pedal it Pink events across the UK have raised more than £175,000 to help Campaign fund vital breast cancer research.

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 104 research projects, worth over £16.1 million, in 38 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/

Louise Garrahan, Media Relations Officer, Breast Cancer Campaign, DD 0207 749 3724