Gym-goers and swimmers across Bedford will notice a new campaign on the mirrors of their leisure centres in the coming weeks as GLL has become the first leisure provider in the UK to join a cancer awareness programme.
The eye-catching stickers will feature the message ‘Check you Out’ and ‘Know What’s Normal for You’ before reminding people that if something doesn’t feel right, to contact their GP practice.
GLL, a not-for-profit social enterprise, took over the running of six local leisure centres on behalf of Bedford Borough Council in February.
Gillan Kelly, Partnership Manager at GLL, said: “Our aim is to improve health and wellbeing in our local community, and we’re delighted to be partnering NHS England in this vital campaign.
“The survey we conducted clearly indicates a need to raise awareness of potential signs of cancer and the mirror stickers will hopefully act as a timely reminder to our customers to check themselves regularly.”
The results from that survey ran by Better show that only 52% of respondents in the East of England check their bodies for physical changes at least once a month, and 15% don’t check at all.
The survey also found that 21% of respondents said they are not aware of any potential cancer signs, although 68% said they would recognise a lump or swelling in a part of their body as a possible early sign of cancer and would seek medical advice.
Get it checked
Professor Peter Johnson, National Clinical Director for Cancer at NHS England, said: “Finding cancer early is key to successful treatment and survival, but this means that we need people who experience symptoms to come forward as soon as they spot them.
“This is why it’s vital that people are aware of their bodies, take notice of a change that isn’t normal for them and get it checked out immediately.
“This partnership with Better means that we’re able to reach more people to remind them to check themselves at a time and a place where they are able to do so. It’s a simple thing that anyone can do, but it really can save your life.”
NHS staff are working hard to see and treat more people with cancer than ever before, with over 50,000 patients starting cancer treatment in June – more than nine in ten within one month – and over a quarter of a million people referred for urgent cancer checks.
The likes of John Bunyan Sports and Fitness and Bedford International Athletics Stadium will host the sticker campaign, and will become just a couple of 240 centres across the UK to have them as part of an increased push by the NHS to increase cancer awareness.
You can find out more about NHS England’s cancer services here.
