This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Launch of first 10k event for men in Scotland
21/02/2006
Scotland's first national 10K event for men was launched today at Meadowbank Stadium in Edinburgh.
The race will take place in Bellahouston Park in Glasgow on Fathers Day, June 18, 2006. It will mark the culmination of National Men's Health Week, and is expected to attract 1500 participants.
Health Minister Andy Kerr said:
"This Men's Health Forum Scotland 10K for Men is a great idea and I am delighted to have been invited to get involved in the event. It is a competitive race but you can also run for fun too. I hope men of all ages and fitness levels will get involved.
"Any event that can raise awareness of men's health issues and encourage them to take an interest in their own health is a positive step. More and more Scots are viewing health as something to be enjoyed. Walking, cycling and jogging are just three of the many ways to build physical activity into everyday life.
"If I can, you can. It's as simple as that. Little things like taking the stairs instead of the lift or getting off the bus a stop or two early can make a huge difference to our general health as well as helping us to feel good and live longer. People don't need to be sporty to be active, small amounts of activity can add up over the day to a healthy routine.
"I am determined that we will turn Scotland's poor health record around. Individually and collectively, we can all take many more steps, large and small, to transform Scotland's health."
Mark Ward, National Coordinator of Men's Health Forum Scotland said,
"This is an extremely exciting day for Men's Health Forum Scotland and our partners. This event is designed for men of all ages and abilities, and we are delighted at the high level of support we have received so far. We hope to encourage men who have never taken part in a 10K before to get involved, and are working with jogscotland to deliver training programmes across Scotland.
"Registrations will be open from today, and given the success of other running events in Scotland, we fully expect this to become a major annual date on the calendar for both running, and men's health. We hope to see family teams taking part, with grandfathers, fathers, sons, uncles and brothers, and there will be plenty of other activities for supporters on the day, at Bellahouston Park"
CancerBACUP is a key partner in the event and hopes to use it to promote the message of general cancer awareness and uptake of CancerBACUP services by men. They also hope to establish a main fundraising event for CancerBACUP in Scotland. Jenny Whelan, Head of CancerBACUP in Scotland said:
"Men are often reluctant to seek help when it comes to their own health but it's vital that they're aware of the signs and symptoms of cancer. The Men's Health Forum Scotland 10K for Men is a great opportunity to encourage men to be more proactive about their health and to let them know that if they have any worries or concerns about cancer, they can talk to CancerBACUP. We're anonymous, we're confidential, and we can answer any question on any cancer. "
More information and registration details can be obtained from Men's Health Forum Scotland at www.mhfs.org.uk.
National Men's Health Week takes place each year, culminating on Fathers Day. More information can be found at http://www.mhfs.org.uk/mhfs/mens_health_week.php