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Hollyoaks Carley Stenson to walk for diabetes in St. Helens
LOCAL girl
Carley Stenson, a.k.a Steph Cunningham from Channel 4 soap-drama
Hollyoaks, will join more than 200 walkers to raise funds for
Diabetes UK by taking part in the charitys Walk in the Park at
Sherdley Park, St. Helens on 14 September 2008 at 1pm.
Cherry Bowmaker, from St Helens and Knowsley Diabetes UK Group,
said:- "This yearly event encourages people to keep active,
raise funds for Diabetes UK, find out more about diabetes and have
an enjoyable afternoon in the park. Having Carley come along and
support us is fantastic lets hope the weathers kind to us!"
Last years Walk in the Parks raised over £1.3million across the UK;
the St. Helens Walk alone raised over £6,000. The more people
attend, the more we can raise, so Id encourage people to encourage
others to come along. Walk in the Park is a fun event for all
the family. The walk itself is only a mile and a half and the route
is suitable for pushchairs and wheelchairs. Registered walkers will
each receive a drawstring bag and everyone who completes the route
will receive a medal.
Diabetes is a serious condition which can lead to heart disease,
blindness, amputation, kidney failure and shorter life expectancy.
However, early diagnosis and good management of the condition can
significantly reduce the risk of complications. There are
280,000 people with diabetes in the North West and a further 65,000
unaware they have the condition.
Diabetes UK has launched Measure Up, its outdoor advertising
campaign which aims to help find the undiagnosed. The Measure Up
bill boards and posters that have been advertised across the country
have been aimed at raising awareness of the risk factors of Type 2
diabetes. The charity is encouraging anyone with at least two risk
factors to go to their doctor for a test. Risk factors of Type 2
diabetes include:- having a large waist or being overweight, aged
over 40 or over 25 for people of Black or South Asian origin, and a
family history of the condition.
Carley said:- "I'm really happy to be part of this important
fundraiser. Id encourage anyone in the area to register and come
along."
If you would like to take part, please contact Sally Hendry on 01928
714 255. Alternatively you can
email - insert Walk in the Park in
the subject title. If easier, you can also register on the
day.
To find out if you are at risk of diabetes visit:-
www.diabetes.org.uk. |
Housing Market Support Plan Welcomed In The North
THE National
Housing Federation in the North has welcomed the Government's
package for the housing market. The measures will go some way
to help those struggling to get onto the property ladder, support
vulnerable homeowners at risk of repossession, and provide much
needed social housing across the North.
Despite recent falls in house prices the Federation has continued to
warn that house prices across the North are still unaffordable for
the majority of people:-
· In the North East
house prices have increased 161% from 1998 - 2007, earnings have
risen just 35% in that time.
· In the North West house prices have increased 172% from 1998 -
2007, earnings have risen just 38% in that time.
· In Yorkshire and Humberside house prices have increased 174% from
1998 - 2007, earnings have risen just 42% in that time.
Around 45,000 households nationally are at serious risk of
repossession. The mortgage rescue scheme was originally proposed by
the Federation and the Council of Mortgage Lenders. This will see
not-for-profit housing associations stepping in to buy properties
from households at risk of having their homes repossessed, at the
fair market rate. The household will then be able to stay in the
home either as part-owners, with a share of the equity, or as social
tenants paying an affordable rent. The scheme is aimed at those who
are vulnerable, and have not acted recklessly.
The Government has also announced:-
· A new shared equity
scheme called Homebuy Direct to give 1st time buyers the chance to
buy new-build properties.
· A boost to the spending power of housing associations and local
authorities to bring forward more social housing in the short term.
· Stamp duty land tax will not apply to purchases of residential
property of £175,000 or less.
Derek Long, National Housing Federation head of North, said:-
"The raft of measures announced today are like different pieces of a
jigsaw, only by piecing them together will we get the bigger picture
and be able to see how much difference they will make.
The Government is at last taking steps to ensure that first-time
buyers are given a helping hand, households at risk of repossession
are protected and social housing continues to be delivered in
sufficient numbers. All of these proposals need scrutiny however any
measures which help tackle the housing crisis is very welcome
indeed. The Government need to continue to be flexible and
innovative, working with housing associations to bring together
housing supply and demand.
The mortgage rescue scheme means many thousands of people at risk of
repossession in the North will now be able to turn to a housing
association for help. It must of course ensure that only those who
are vulnerable, and have not acted recklessly, will receive
assistance." |
