An apple a day

The Pink Lady, Wally and Wise and Health in Action roadshows can be spotted touring Northern Ireland at the moment promoting a message of healthy living and safe sun.

The roadshows have been designed by Action Cancer as part of their health promotion campaign, School Action, that targets young people.

Action Cancer launched the campaign on World Health Day, 7 April 2003, to encourage school children to see the value of nutrition, exercise and skin protection in the fight against cancer.

School Action hopes to stimulate healthy lifestyles at a young age in an attempt to curb the numbers of people developing the disease. Breast cancer alone accounts for 300 deaths in Northern Ireland each year.

Louise Warde-Hunter, Action Cancer’s Chief Executive, said: "The ‘School Action’ programme is a unique initiative developed by Action Cancer for all schools and linked to the current curriculum. Our roadshows – for primary, girls and boys, and secondary schools - help educate pupils on healthy lifestyles and being safe in the sun.

"Action Cancer groups and our sponsor Centra, have come together to promote the programme and to mark World Health Day in a practical way, by focusing our efforts on the future health of Northern Ireland’s young people. Working as an effective community partnership means we can increase the number of schools we visit each year."

The campaign is supported by local retail chain, Centra, which signed a three year sponsorship deal with the programme in March 2003.

For more information on Action Cancer campaigns, or to book a School Action roadshow, phone Action Cancer on 028 9080 3344 or visit www.actioncancer.org