Health and Fitness

the challenge

Preston teens challenged to get stuck in with communities

15th, April 2011 by

Preston teenagers have the chance to go on a low-cost adventure programme that will test their physical, creative and community spirit. ‘The Challenge’ is part of the government’s new National Citizen Service inspiring young people to unlock their potential, and develop their independence, teamwork and communication skills. For just £50, this 3 week programme will throw them in at the deep end – they will [...]

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Great Britain’s Peet climbing the wall of success

19th, February 2011 by

World Cup hero Sir Geoff Hurst laid into England’s footballers last week for their passionless displays in the Three Lions shirt. But not all sportspeople have had their realities distorted by money and fame. Preston-born Gill Peet, a Great Britain boulderer, values nothing more than turning out for her national team. “It’s brilliant to represent your country at something you love,” says Peet. “I just love [...]

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Senior instructor at the club Kru Shaks

Thai boxing club looking for knockout blow

16th, February 2011 by

Preston Thai Boxing Club is hoping its exciting brand of martial arts will grow more and more popular in the city. Muay Thai or Thai boxing is the national sport of Thailand. It was developed there over 2000 years ago as a way of defending the nation’s borders against the Burmese when weapons were banned. The club trains people in the art of Muay Thai [...]

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McNamee valentines day paris

Valentine’s Day apart… for charity

11th, February 2011 by

Valentine’s Day is an opportunity for lovers to make their partners feel extra special. Most people do this by showering their better halves with presents, flowers and intimate words, declaring why those people mean the world to them. But this year, a young couple from Preston will be doing the exact opposite – spending Valentine’s Day over 500 miles apart. Simon McNamee, 19, from Leyland, [...]

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Green bus uclan

University urging students to be greener

10th, February 2011 by

The University of Central Lancashire has launched a week long scheme encouraging students to be greener. But the people responsible for running the project are parading around campus in a fuel-guzzling red double decker bus which is used to promote their eco message. The bus is driven between its depot in Blackpool and the university every other day – adding up to more than 188 [...]

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Lib Dem councillors Mark Jewell and Danny Gallagher have both backed calls for 20mph limits on residential roads

Tragic Lewis died doing what he loved

9th, February 2011 by

The tragic death of rising cycling star Lewis Balyckyi is one of many young people who die on Lancashire’s roads each year. Lewis, just 18 when he died in January, was tipped to represent Great Britain at the 2012 Olympics. He died from severe head injuries after a crash in Bretherton, only a few miles from his home in Walton-le-Dale. Lewis’ father Kevin said: “Lewis was every [...]

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NHS: ‘GPs must do more’

2nd, February 2011 by

Lancashire medical staff have cautiously welcomed the Government’s NHS reforms, which were set out in a white paper last Thursday. The Coalition Government plans to abolish the country’s 152 regional Primary Care Trusts, which are responsible for first-contact services as well as buying “secondary care” from hospitals. Under the reforms, Preston’s Primary Care Trust – NHS Central Lancashire – will see its commissioning responsibilities handed [...]

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vegan-month

Vegan month: ‘I finally gave in’

21st, January 2011 by

This week has been tough – no doubt about it. Maybe it’s different when you’ve been vegan from birth, but when you’ve completely changed your diet in the space of two weeks, it’s incredibly hard. Fake cheese, fake milk, fake butter – it all tastes vile. My normal breakfast of cereal or porridge has been replaced by toast; my lunchtime sandwiches have been replaced by [...]

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Vegan month: an eye-opening first week

10th, January 2011 by

With only a week gone in my month of being a vegan, it’s too early to come to a verdict about its advantages and disadvantages. What I can say with some ease is that this week has opened my eyes with a sudden, sharp shock of the world of veganism. I spent the first week researching pro-vegan and anti-meat arguments, with the intention of looking [...]

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Some of the chainsaw-sculpted trees in Ashton Park, pic courtesy of Tony Worrall.

Preston’s parks celebrating National Tree Week

5th, December 2010 by

Ashton Park Rangers led a guided walk through the park in celebration of National Tree Week. Mike Ashmore and Steve Smith had originally planned to hold a community tree planting event. This would have run on from their participation in the BBC’s attempt to plant one million trees in an hour last year. Unfortunately the minus seven degree conditions put a stop to any planting. [...]

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