NHS has partnered up with GLL (Greenwich Leisure Limited) for a new campaign to encourage those who attend leisure centres across Waltham Forest to look out for potential signs of cancer, reports Holly Kintuka
Mirrors in leisure centres across Waltham Forest will have messages on them to encourage gym-goers and swimmers to regularly check their bodies.
NHS has partnered up with GLL (Greenwich Leisure Limited) for a new campaign to encourage those who attend leisure centres across Waltham Forest to look out for potential signs of cancer.
The stickers, which feature messages such as “Check you out” and “Know what’s normal for you”, will be placed on mirrors in the changing rooms of Better leisure centres in the borough.
The purpose of the campaign is that when attendees of the leisure centre see the messages, it will prompt them to check their bodies and to contact their GP practice if something doesn’t feel right.
A survey carried out by Better found that only 44% of the respondents in London check their bodies regularly for physical changes, and 10% do not check at all.
This campaign is the most recent push by the NHS to find cancers at an earlier stage, with Better being the first leisure provider in the UK to focus on cancer awareness. The brand joins a number of other partners to showcase cancer messages to the public in everyday situations.
This story is published by Waltham Forest Echo, Waltham Forest's free monthly newspaper and free news website. We are a not-for-profit publication, published by a small social enterprise. We have no rich backers and rely on the support of our readers. Donate or become a supporter.
Professor Peter Johnson, national clinical director for cancer at NHS England, said: “Finding cancer early is key to successful treatment and survival, but this means that we need people who experience symptoms to come forward as soon as they spot them.
“This is why it’s vital that people are aware of their bodies, take notice of a change that isn’t normal for them and get it checked out immediately.”
Demi Jones, ex-Love Island contestant, is also supporting the scheme after she was diagnosed with thyroid cancer diagnosis at the age of 22.
She said: “[I] would urge anyone who notices an unusual change not to delay and speak to their GP as they are there to help. It really could save their life, as it did mine.”
NHS’s partnership with Better will allow more people to “check themselves at a time and place where they are able to do so”.
Daniel O’Connor, GLL Partnership Manager, said: “Our aim is to improve health and wellbeing in our local community, and we’re delighted to be partnering NHS England in this vital campaign.
“The survey we conducted clearly indicates a need to raise awareness of potential signs of cancer and the mirror stickers will hopefully act as a timely reminder to our customers to check themselves regularly.”
No news is bad news
Independent news outlets like ours – reporting for the community without rich backers – are under threat of closure, turning British towns into news deserts.
The audiences they serve know less, understand less, and can do less.
If our coverage has helped you understand our community a little bit better, please consider supporting us with a monthly, yearly or one-off donation.
Choose the news. Don’t lose the news.
Monthly direct debit
Annual direct debit
£5 per month supporters get a digital copy of each month’s paper before anyone else, £10 per month supporters get a digital copy of each month’s paper before anyone else and a print copy posted to them each month. £50 annual supporters get a digital copy of each month's paper before anyone else.
More information on supporting us monthly or annually
More Information about donations
