Charity boss runs Hadrian's Wall in scrotum suit to highlight testicular cancer
Toby Freeman, from Colchester, ran 90 miles from Bowness-on-Solway in Cumbria to North Shields, North Tyneside over just three days while wearing a large pink costume.
The founder and chief executive of The Robin Cancer Trust ran more than a marathon a day to back the charity's Big Ballsy Challenge to raise funds and awareness of testicular cancer.
Mr Freeman's brother Robin died aged just 24 in 2011 after he developed germ cell cancer which affects the testicles or the ovaries.
After his feat of endurance which saw him startle livestock and get his testicle suit snagged on thorns, Mr Freeman said: 'It was the hardest and most enjoyable thing I've ever done.
'Physically, it pushed me to the limit.
'But mentally, it was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life.
'In the darkest moments, I thought of my brother Rob, and every single man out there facing testicular cancer, and that's what kept me going.'
To donate to The Robin Cancer Trust or get involved in the Big Ballsy Challenge visit www.therobincancertrust.org/bigballsychallenge
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The Independent
17 minutes ago
- The Independent
17 best things to do in London with the kids this summer
London has got to be one of the best places in the country to keep children entertained. Even if the summer holidays seem to stretch endlessly into the future, the city is bursting with new, family-friendly experiences. Whether you are travelling to the UK capital for a day out, or live in the city and have a spare afternoon, London has something for tots to teens, no matter what their latest fixation is. From dinosaur crafting sessions to immersive theatre, London's attractions often host events, workshops and activities that are perfect for whiling away the hours. Families can explore some of the world's best museums, zoos and play areas, but narrowing down the right one is another matter. Thankfully, we've done the work for you to ensure you have the best trip this summer. Forget Madame Tussauds: we've selected some of London 's most weird, wonderful and awe-inspiring experiences to ensure both you and your little ones are entertained and inspired by everything this marvellous city has to offer, whatever your budget – and whatever the weather. Best things to do with kids in London this summer 1. Ride the world's longest and tallest slide Whizz down The Slide at the ArcelorMittal Orbit, the world's tallest (76 metres) and longest (178 metres) slide. Designed by artists Anish Kapoor and Carsten Höller, and architect Cecil Balmond, to mark the London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics, this iconic landmark is located in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in Stratford, east London. Composed of 12 twists and turns, including a tight corkscrew known as the bettfeder ('bedspring' in German), it climaxes with a thrilling 50 metre straight run to the ground. Expect to reach speeds of up to 24km on a journey that takes 40 seconds from beginning to end. Visitors can either take the lift to the viewing platform or tackle the 455 steps. There's also a glass floor to peer through, for those brave enough. Tickets from £14; a supervising adult is required for under 18s, and there is a minimum height requirement of 1.3 metres 2. Visit a city farm London's 12 city farms are educational and fun green spaces aimed at serving the local community, and home to a plethora of creatures, from the curious to the cuddly. Mudchute Park and Farm covers 32 acres in the Isle of Dogs, making it one of the largest inner city farms in Europe. It's home to over 100 animals and fowl, including llamas. In south London, Vauxhall City Farm is London's oldest, and home to alpacas, ferrets, goats and more. Visitors can also enjoy animal experiences, including being a farmer for the day, or simply just enjoy petting their furriest residents. Vauxhall City Farm also has a riding school, which is currently closed for renovation until September 2025. Other city farms can be found in Hackney, Spitalfields, Kentish Town, Stepney and Crystal Palace. 3. Watch a film on the UK's biggest cinema screen Towering at an impressive 20 metres by 26 metres, the BFI Imax cinema in Waterloo is the UK's biggest cinema. A 12,000-watt digital surround system makes a visit here the ultimate immersive experience for film lovers, with the sheer scale of this film experience certain to widen young eyes. From £14 4. Take a dip From lidos to leisure centres, there are plenty of places to stay cool in London over the summer. Some of the best places to take a dip include Finchley Lido Leisure Centre in Barnet, where kids will enjoy hours playing in the leisure pool that is complete with a wave machine, jets and water cannons. The leisure centre in Leyton is also a brilliant choice for an afternoon of splashing about, with its fast water flume and aqua play area complete with waterslides and tipping buckets. If you are keen to give your kids a boost of confidence in the water, many leisure facilities also offer swimming lessons, such as the London Aquatics Centre in Stratford, used for the 2012 Olympics. The large training pool here offers a place for kids to learn to swim with their families. Leyton Leisure Centre costs from £5.60 for non-member adults, and £2.60 for kids. Finchley Leisure Centre costs from £8.30 for non-member adults, and £5.20 for kids. Family swimming at the London Aquatics Centre costs from £7.30 for adults and £4.50 for kids. 5. Discover London's world-class museums London is blessed with some of the world's most illustrious museums, many of which offer a whole host of activities and experiences to engage young minds, particularly during school holidays, from zine-making to sculpture, collage to finger painting. While some are entirely devoted to children and young people, such as Bethnal Green's Young V&A and Stratford's Discover Children's Story Centre, there are plenty of things on offer at practically all museums to entertain young people and children. From an earthquake simulator at the Natural History Museum, to a now permanent computer games exhibit at the Science Museum, museums are a great – and often free – way to inspire children. Bowling around the cavernous space at the Tate Modern never gets old, either. Many of London's museums are free to enter, but if you want to skip queues or fancy booking an audio tour for when you visit, it's worth checking out Viator's selection of museum tickets and passes. 6. Take a stroll through a treetop canopy Situated 18 metres above the ground, Kew Gardens' Treetop Walkway is a great way to get closer to its world-renowned collection of flora and fauna. Climb 118 steps to discover a complex ecosystem teeming with birds, insects, lichen and fungi that live in the trees' uppermost branches. At ground level, sculptures carved from tree trunks illustrate microscopic elements of trees to explain how they grow. There's also a Children's Garden, which is a fun and interactive space for little ones to climb, run, jump and explore, complete with trampolines, stepping stones, periscopes, hammocks and a living bamboo tunnel. 7. Jump on the Harry Potter bandwagon The magical world of Harry Potter continues to resonate with children of all ages – and there's plenty to explore in London for Muggles and magical folk alike. The big hitter is undoubtedly the Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter. Here, fans can see sets, props and costumes from the hit film franchise and step inside film locations such as Dumbledore's office, the Great Hall, Diagon Alley and the Forbidden Forest. Buses travel regularly to the site from the centre of London, while trains take 20 minutes from Euston to Watford Junction, with regular shuttle buses. And if that's too pricey, head to Platform 9¾ at King's Cross station, where you can cosplay as your favourite character and bag a fun selfie. Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter tickets from £56; free to visit Platform 9¾ at King's Cross station 8. Get lost in the UK's oldest surviving hedge maze Whatever your age, getting lost in the Hampton Court Maze is an experience you won't forget in a hurry. Commissioned around 1700 by William III, it covers a third of an acre and is known for its confusing twists, turns and dead ends. On average, it takes around 20 minutes to reach the centre. As it's a multicursal maze – meaning a visitor needs to make decisions about which route to take next, rather than simply following a single path – it's great for stimulating the grey matter and getting kids off their phones as they attempt to conquer this puzzle. Children under four go free, tickets for those aged 5-15 start from £13.60, including entrance to the palace, maze and Magic Garden 9. Take a street art tour Score points with teenagers on a tour of London's best street art. Hear the stories behind some of the city's most fascinating artworks, from giant murals to tiny hidden sculptures, on a tour that takes in artwork by Roa, Shepard Fairey, Invader, Stik and Vhils. There's also the option to add on a workshop, where participants can try their hand at creating their own artwork in the purpose-built studio. Art lovers on a budget should head to Leake Street Arches, where eight former railway arches beneath Waterloo station now form a public gallery of street art and graffiti for everyone to enjoy. 10. Go to a soft play area Soft play areas are a great alternative to the city centre attractions, especially if you have a toddler who just needs to blow off some steam. London is home to some of the most trendy and sophisticated options, from the inflatable indoor park Inflata Nation in Colindale to Bertie and Boo's sensory adventure environment in Balham. Others are more low-key affairs attached to cafes, such as Sandscape in Finsbury Park, where your little ones can play in the sand pit while you catch up with friends over a coffee. Inflata Nation costs £14.95 for adults and children, and £9.50 for under-fours. 11. Discover dinosaurs Despite dinosaurs going extinct 64 million years ago, they continue to have a hold on the young imagination. Kids will love these 16 life-size sculptures of dinos past and their fellow extinct creatures, which have been residing in Crystal Palace Park in south London since the 19th century. The models have their own unique history and were first unveiled in 1854. They have undergone extensive refurbishment several times since then. They can be found in the south section of Crystal Palace Park, near the Penge entrance. Check out the Friends of Crystal Palace Dinosaurs website before your visit for downloadable information sheets and even an audio guide. Free 12. Take a ride above the city A trip on the IFS Cable Car over the Thames is always a good idea, whatever your age, although sunset on a clear day brings megawatt views of iconic city sights such as St Paul's Cathedral, the Millennium Dome, the Gherkin and the Thames Barrier. The 1km line runs between Greenwich and Royal Victoria Dock and forms part of Transport for London's network, meaning you can simply tap on and off with your payment card. Consider the London transport box well and truly ticked by bagging the front seat of the Docklands Light Railway (DLR) for your onward journey to feel like you're in charge of your very own train. A one-way ticket costs £6 13. Shake your tail feathers Notting Hill Carnival is a stalwart of London's summer season, and 2025 is no exception. As Europe's biggest street party, it's a celebration of Caribbean culture and the diversity and vibrancy of this remarkable city. As well as some top-class music, food and drink, Sunday is family day, with a host of family-friendly activities, events and the children's parade. Dress up to get down. Sunday 24 August, free 14. See stars Budding astronomers will adore a visit to the Peter Harrison Planetarium at the Royal Observatory in Greenwich. 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Run wild at the London Wetland Centre If the zoo animals don't quite cut it for your youngster, why not a trip out to the London Wetland Centre in Barnes? This summer is particularly special if dragonflies are your kids' current obsession, as until 22 September, the centre is hosting a series of workshops, events and scavenger hunts dedicated to the flying insect. Meanwhile, on the last two Thursdays of August, children can take part in junior bat walks using special bat detectors to seek out these flapping creatures in the dark. For daytime activities, head to the centre for its adventure play areas, complete with a zip line, climber and trail course, mid kitchen and splash pad water play area.
The Guardian
18 minutes ago
- The Guardian
Police officers warned against dancing ahead of Notting Hill carnival
For George Michael, it was guilty feet that left him unable to dance. For Eddy Grant, a world full of problems left him rooted to the spot as the music played. But for police officers amid the sound systems at this weekend's Notting Hill carnival, it is orders from on high that dictate that no matter how the beat moves them, they are banned from dancing with revellers. Down the decades the scenes of officers strutting their stuff was seen as a cheesy but welcome attempt at repairing strained community relations. But in a statement on Monday, the Metropolitan police made clear it feels a twerk or rhythmic shake of the hips may distract or slow down the 7,000 officers deployed to the carnival from responding to outbreaks of crime. The carnival is the biggest annual challenge for the Met. For the overwhelming majority of the more than 1 million people attending it is the biggest celebration of Caribbean culture in Europe, and one of the biggest entertainment gatherings in the world. But the carnival's two-day takeover of the streets of west London is dogged by serious crimes. Last year there were two murders and more than 60 officers were injured, as well as constant fears among police commanders of a catastrophic crush with so many people packed in narrow streets. One police source justified the dancing ban, which was first implemented in 2019, and said: 'Carnival is a fantastic event but it is a serious event.' Sign up to Headlines UK Get the day's headlines and highlights emailed direct to you every morning after newsletter promotion Privately Met chiefs feel that pictures of officers dancing, emerging when there has been serious violence, just does not sit right. In a statement the Met confirmed the dancing ban, and a spokesperson said: 'Carnival is an iconic and spectacular event which attracts hundreds of thousands of people every year to party and celebrate Caribbean culture. 'But it is also an event where there have been numerous concerns about crowd safety and crime. As a consequence, almost 7,000 officers will be deployed to this year's event. They are there to keep revellers safe, not to join in the revelling. 'We want officers to positively engage with the carnivalgoers while staying vigilant at all times and remaining able to respond and intervene swiftly as necessary. They can't do this if they are dancing. 'The standards of behaviour expected as part of the policing operation will be communicated clearly before the event, just as they have been in recent years.' Notting Hill carnival dates back almost seven decades, starting as a celebration of resistance in an openly racist Britain. This year police will controversially deploy live facial recognition systems in the approaches to the carnival, hoping to catch wanted suspects and deter people attending who want to cause trouble. The carnival starts on Sunday with a day for children and families, and its busiest day is usually bank holiday Monday. It is by far the Met's biggest policing operation of the year, taking place in Notting Hill, west London, with hundreds of thousands of people packed into narrow urban streets.
Daily Mail
18 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Blankety Blank player misses out on jackpot as he's bested by mind-boggling riddle - but can YOU solve it?
A Blankety Blank player missed out on the jackpot after being bested by mind-boggling riddle - but can you work it out? The popular BBC game show, which is hosted by Bradley Walsh, has gripped viewers with its word association brain teasers over the years. But as one player, David, was given the word 'Down', followed by a blank, they narrowly missed out. With the help from three celebrities help, David was challenged to match their common phrases. Nish Kumar, offered up the word 'hill' to make 'Downhill', Shane Richie suggested 'town' to make 'Downtown'. For the final suggestions, Lesley Joseph recommended the word 'stairs' to form the word 'downstairs'. But David revealed to host Bradley that he was considering 'under' as his choice to make 'Down under'. After he locked in his own answer, it was revealed 'under' was the third most popular answer - for £500. The second most popular answer was Lesley's suggestion, 'stairs', which would have bagged him £750. Meanwhile, coming out on top was 'town' which was Shane's choice and have got David a home decorating package. The long running show sees two contestants match the answers to as many of the six celebrity panellists on fill-in-the-blank statements in order to win 'unique' prizes. The Chase presenter, 63, who took over for the most recent comeback in 2021, will has returned for a fourth and fifth series. Terry Wogan and then Les Dawson previously hosted the show from 1979 until 1990 before the programme was briefly revived by Paul O'Grady as his drag alter-ego Lily Savage in 2001. Some of the most recent celebrity contestants to take part in the series include Dancing on Ice judge Oti Mabuse, This Morning stars Eamonn Holmes, Josie Gibson, and Alison Hammond and Loose Women panellist Judi Love. Earlier this year, Naga Munchetty made her first appearance on Blankety Blank amid the BBC Breakfast bullying probe. The news presenter featured on the show alongside other guests which included Great British Bake Off star Sue Perkins, This Morning's Dermot O'Leary, Iain Stirling, Paralympian Ellie Simmonds and Layton Williams. However, many viewers were focused on Naga, as her Blankety Blank debut came as she found herself reportedly accused of bullying a member of staff, according to The Sun, and allegedly was spoken to by bosses over a sex jibe she made while off-air at BBC Radio 5 Live. BBC Breakfast was also reportedly undergoing a bullying probe which was launched into BBC Breakfast, with much of the upset centred around its editor Richard Frediani. Watchers took to social media to share their thoughts and one posted on X: 'Naga Munchetty on Blankety Blank after the headlines she's been making someone at the bbc will get fired for that #bbc #blanketyblank.' Someone else added: 'Naga hasn't been cancelled yet then #blanketyblank.' 'Bad timing to feature Naga #BlanketyBlank,' one viewer said, followed by a laughing face emoji.
