Latest news with #CancerResearchUK
Leader Live
a day ago
- Sport
- Leader Live
Bethan Scott to take on 500km cycle in memory of husband
Bethan Scott is embarking on her next major challenge starting on July 23, cycling 500km from London to Paris, as part of her ongoing mission to raise £1 million in memory of her late husband, Dave Scott. Bethan will be joined by fellow fundraisers Roman Mach and Helen Massey, who she met during previous charity treks and cycles in support of Nightingale House Hospice. Helen Massey, Roman Mach and Bethan Scott. (Image: Nightingale House Hospice) The trio will start their journey in Croydon, riding to Dover before crossing the Channel to Calais. Once in France, they'll cycle through picturesque countryside, historic market towns and the poignant war memorials of the Somme, before arriving in Paris via the Champs-Élysées and finishing at the iconic Eiffel Tower. This incredible ride is just one of many challenges Bethan has completed around the world since she began fundraising in Dave's memory following his passing in 2017. Her efforts have already raised over £180,000 for Dave's chosen charities Alzheimer's Research and Cancer Research UK, including £160,000 for Nightingale House Hospice, the place that provided care and support for him and his family. Bethan said: 'The hospice will always be central to my fundraising. Dave Scott (Image: Nightingale House Hospice)'I've seen first-hand the incredible care they gave to Dave and our family. "I've made it my mission to raise £1 million in his name and this year I'm aiming to reach my next milestone of £200,000.' Bethan is grateful to have the backing of three generous sponsors for the London to Paris ride. The ASH Group, SPEN and The Pencilcraftsman have all come forward to support the challenge. Following the London to Paris cycle, Bethan and Roman will head straight into another international challenge in October, taking on the Spanish Three Peaks in Sierra Nevada National Park, tackling Alcazaba, Veleta and Mulhacén (mainland Spain's highest peak) over three gruelling days. The Spanish trek will mark Bethan's 10th international challenge, adding to an impressive list that includes the Inca Trail in Peru, Mount Kilimanjaro, Everest Base Camp, the Great Wall of China, the Alps, Camino de Santiago, mountains of Croatia, Mount Toubkal and cycling from Vietnam to Cambodia and Milan to Venice. In 2024, Bethan and the Everest Base Camp team and Dave's Memory Walking Group, who walked from Llandudno to Wrexham, raised almost £20,000 for Nightingale House Hospice, and she continues to be overwhelmed by the support of her fellow fundraisers. Helen Massey is also planning to take on the Welsh 3000s challenge this year to support Bethan's fundraising total. MOST READ: 3 'must visit' seaside fish and chip shops in North Wales named among UK's best New gastro pub and restaurant opens its doors in Wrexham Over 25's nightclub set to open its doors in Wrexham city centre So far this year, Bethan has raised over £6,000 and is hoping a packed calendar of events will help her reach £20,000 by the end of 2025, bringing her overall fundraising total to £200,000. Bethan added: 'Every step, every pedal, and every summit is for Dave. 'I promised I'd keep going, and I will, not just for him, but for the hospice and for everyone who needs their care.' To follow Bethan's journey or support her fundraising, visit:
Evening Standard
2 days ago
- Health
- Evening Standard
Interactive map reveals London's worst boroughs for smoking – as capital shown to be lightest smokers in UK
Dr Ian Walker, executive director at Cancer Research UK, said the Tobacco and Vapes Bill is 'a historic opportunity to help stub out the harms of smoking" but said it is frustrating that the legislation "isn't progressing through Parliament as quickly as it should be".
The Independent
3 days ago
- Health
- The Independent
Mapped: The UK regions where smoking is most common after stark new figures released
The number of cigarettes smoked in Britain every year has been revealed in a shocking new study from Cancer Research UK and University College London (UCL). Smokers are getting through an estimated 28.6 billion cigarettes each year on average, equating to 78 million every day. The study draws on data from the Smoking Toolkit Study between 2022 and 2024. It estimates that adults who smoke consume an average of 10.4 cigarettes daily, with 5.5 per cent of smokers exceeding 20 cigarettes a day The figures are also broken down by region, showing which areas in the UK have the highest proportion of smokers, and which region has the highest average number of cigarettes smoked. The data shows that it is the South West that has the highest proportion of smokers at 15 per cent of the adult population. Meanwhile, Scotland and Yorkshire are joint-lowest at 13.3 per cent. Amongst all adults, the average is 13.9 per cent. However, smokers in southern regions smoke proportionally less cigarettes a year than those in the north and Scotland. Smokers in the North East average 598 cigarettes a year – the highest of any region – while London is the lowest at 423. The analysis finds that this points to significant inequalities in cigarette consumption, with individuals from more deprived backgrounds smoking an average of 11 cigarettes daily, compared to 9.4 per day among those in wealthier areas. In light of the figures, charities are calling on the government to speed up its upcoming Tobacco and Vapes Bill which is currently passing through Parliament. The legislation aims to create a 'smoke-free generation' by preventing the sale of tobacco products to anyone born on or after January 1, 2009, effectively raising the legal smoking age each year. Cancer Research UK's executive director of policy, Dr Ian Walker, said: 'While great strides have been made to bring down smoking rates, we can't afford to be complacent. Every week, around 550 million cigarettes are still smoked in Britain – that's enough to fill an Olympic sized swimming pool. It's vital that everyone, wherever they live, can access the support they need to quit smoking for good. 'The Tobacco and Vapes Bill is a historic opportunity to help stub out the harms of smoking, but it's frustrating that the legislation isn't progressing through Parliament as quickly as it should be. 'Tobacco is a toxic product that should have no place in our future, and I urge all parliamentarians to back a smoke-free UK and prioritise this Bill when it returns to the House of Lords. This world-leading legislation has strong political and public support that can't be ignored.'
The Independent
3 days ago
- Health
- The Independent
If you're from these UK areas, you're more likely to smoke
A new analysis estimates 28.6 billion cigarettes are smoked in Britain annually, highlighting stark inequalities in consumption across the country. The study, by Cancer Research UK and UCL, found people from more deprived backgrounds and regions like the North East and Scotland smoke more cigarettes daily. Despite overall declining smoking rates, England is projected to miss its 2030 smokefree target, potentially not achieving it until 2039. Charities are urging the Government to prioritise the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, which aims to prevent anyone born after 1 January 2009 from legally smoking. Concerns are growing over the Bill's slow progress through Parliament, with billions of cigarettes smoked since its reintroduction in the Commons.
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
Britons puff over 78 MILLION cigarettes every day, shock study finds - is YOUR area a hotspot?
Smokers puff over 78million cigarettes every single day in the UK, concerning research has suggested. Studies have long shown smoking rates across Britain as a whole have crashed to an all-time low. But now, researchers in London, who assessed the smoking habits of almost 80,000 Britons, found smokers still had 10 cigarettes per day on average in 2024. In the worst affected parts of the UK, this rose to 12. And each smoker on average consumed roughly 528 cigarettes every year—28.6 billion per year nationally, the equivalent of 78million per day. Experts warned that the 'staggering figure' is a 'stark reminder of the deadly toll of inaction'. Cancer Research UK, which funded the study, also urged the Government 'not to be complacent' in continuing the fight to reduce tobacco rates. Experts have long said the introduction of modern anti-smoking laws, such as selling cigarettes in plain packaging, are behind the fall in smokers. Other tough measures deployed in the past two decades include slapping graphic warning labels depicting their damaging health effects on all tobacco and banning smoking in restaurants, pubs and nightclubs. Dr Ian Walker, executive director of policy at Cancer Research UK, said: 'While great strides have been made to bring down smoking rates, we can't afford to be complacent. 'Every week, around 550 million cigarettes are still smoked in Britain—that's enough to fill an Olympic sized swimming pool. It's vital that everyone, wherever they live, can access the support they need to quit smoking for good.' Dr Sarah Jackson, research fellow at UCL's Institute of Epidemiology and Health Care, added: 'Tackling smoking is not just about preventing uptake among future generations. 'Despite declining smoking rates, over 28 billion cigarettes are still consumed in Great Britain each year, generating up to 140,000 metric tons of toxic, non-biodegradable waste annually. 'Reducing cigarette consumption is critical not only to save lives and narrow health inequalities, but also to protect our environment from one of the most pervasive forms of plastic pollution.' The 77,796 smokers involved in the University College London study were quizzed on their habits—including cigarette consumption and the type of tobacco smoked between 2022 and 2024. They found adults who smoked, consumed an average of 10.4 cigarettes per day, with 5.5 per cent of those smoking more than 20 a day. Researchers also found people in the North East and Scotland smoked the most—11.7 each—while people in London and the South West smoked the least, with 8.4 and 9.5 cigarettes respectively. Writing in the journal Nicotine and Tobacco Research, they added: 'Our findings indicate that adults from less advantaged backgrounds who smoke, consumed an average of 11 cigarettes per day, compared with 9.4 per day among those who were more advantaged. 'They were also more likely to smoke heavily, with 6.1 per cent versus 4.6 per cent reporting that they smoked more than 20 cigarettes per day.' Experts also warned that England could struggle to meet its smoke free target of 5 per cent by 2030 if current trends continue. Dr Walker said the Tobacco and Vapes Bill was 'a historic opportunity to help stub out the harms of smoking' but it was frustrating that the legislation 'isn't progressing through Parliament as quickly as it should be'. The legislation—which cleared the House of Commons in March—will prevent anyone born on or after January 1 2009 from legally smoking if it becomes law. It is set to undergo further scrutiny in the House of Lords. Reacting to the study, Hazel Cheeseman, chief executive of Action on Smoking and Health (Ash), also said: 'Since Parliament last debated the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, an estimated 6.7 billion cigarettes have been smoked in the UK. 'That staggering figure is a stark reminder of the deadly toll of inaction. 'Every day that passes without this legislation is a day lost in protecting our children from addiction and improving public health. 'We urge the Government to make this Bill a priority immediately after summer recess. The country cannot afford further delay—this is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to create a smoke free future, and it must not be squandered.' Smoking kills around 78,000 people in the UK every year, with many more living with illnesses due to their habit—half of which are due to cardiovascular diseases, such as heart attack and stroke. It is estimated that around 500,000 hospital admissions every year in England are attributable to smoking and that smoking costs the economy £17billion per year. The 7,000 chemicals in tobacco—including tar and others that can narrow arteries and damage blood vessels—are thought to be behind some of the damage smoking inflicts on the heart. Meanwhile, nicotine—a highly addictive toxin found in tobacco—is heavily linked with dangerous increases in heart rate and blood pressure.
