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Website Launched to Help Prevent Cancer
By Derval Keenan, 6/17/2005 12:23:14 PM
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The Ulster Cancer Foundation (UCF) in partnership with the Big Lottery Fund and the Eastern Health and Social Services Board, launched a new interactive website called Need2Know www.n2k.org.uk to help young people learn about positive lifestyle choices which can help prevent cancer.
Need2Know adopts an active learning approach for young people between the ages of 11-18 years old on how to reduce and prevent behaviours that contribute to the development of cancer, such as smoking, alcohol misuse, unhealthy dietary practices, lack of exercise, sexual behaviour that causes disease and overexposure to the sun.
Clare Smith, Cancer Prevention Officer and Project Co-ordinator, UCF said, ?“The Need2Know website is a great resource to help young people become aware that it isn?’t difficult to incorporate healthy choices within their current lifestyle. For example young people know that they should be eating 5 pieces of fruit and vegetables each day, however they often find this difficult. The website looks at easy ways to incorporate such recommendations into their daily life.?”
Young people have been instrumental in helping direct the development of the website and have designed all the activities offered, to ensure that they receive information that is relevant to them in a way that is easily understood.
The website is also tailored to meet the needs of teachers, youth workers, parents etc who can be empowered with the appropriate information to disseminate key cancer prevention messages to young people.
Clare continued, ?“You do not have to be an expert in the field of cancer to help prevent it. Adolescence is a critical transition point from childhood into adult life and promoting healthy lifestyles at this stage can help encourage young people to make positive lifestyle choices that will continue into adulthood. Teachers, parents and youth workers have an important part to play.?”
Recent research shows that two thirds of all cancers can be prevented if the lifestyle choices advocated in this Need2Know website were adopted.
www.n2k.org.uk is approved by CEA and hard copies of the supporting Need2Know resource pack can be ordered by contacting Clare Smith at UCF on 028 9049 2007 or e-mail: claresmith@ulstercancer.org
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For further information please contact:
Derval Keenan, PR and Events Officer, Ulster Cancer Foundation on
028 9049 2007 / 07812 525531
OR
Clare Smith, Cancer Prevention Officer and Project Co-ordinator, Ulster Cancer Foundation on
028 9049 2007 or claresmith@ulstercancer.org
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