News reports located on this page = 2.

'MACMILLAN MILE' walking events for people living with cancer return to Merseyside

ANYONE affected by cancer is being invited to take part in a:- 'Macmillan Mile' walk which return to Merseyside next month to raise awareness of the charity's local services. Macmillan Cancer Support is staging 2, 1 mile walks in Crosby and Birkenhead, which are completely free and open to all ages and abilities. The 2 evening events also aim to highlight the benefits of exercise before, during and after treatment for cancer.

People living with cancer are encouraged to bring along their carers, family and friends to walk, jog or run the route. And although the Macmillan Mile is not a fundraising event, people can still make donations to the fundraising team on the day.

Details of the Macmillan Mile events:-

► Tuesday, 9 July 2019... Crosby Lakeside Adventure Centre, Crosby Coastal Park, Cambridge Road, Waterloo, L22 1RR... Starts at 6pm.

► Thursday,11 July 2019... Birkenhead Park Visitor Centre, Park Drive, Birkenhead, CH41 8AU... Starts at 6pm.

There will also be live music at both events, from SingMe Choir at Crosby and a band called Late Arrival at Birkenhead, refreshments provided by Asda and Macmillan Cancer Support information stalls. And, at the Crosby event, 11 year old Mac Mulvey, whose mum Tanya is the Macmillan Information and Support Centre Manager in Southport, will also 'Brave the Shave' for Macmillan Cancer Support. Mac, a pupil at St Luke's Primary School in Formby, will undergo the 'hair raising' challenge to try and raise vital funds for local people living with cancer.

Lucy Holmes, Macmillan Community Wellbeing Project Manager, who has organised the events, said:- "Most walking or running events are for a minimum of 5k, which can be unachievable for most people going through cancer treatment, but also for those with other health and mobility conditions. The aim of the 'Macmillan Mile' is to give people a great sense of achievement of completing a challenge, especially when they have gone through the tough times of a cancer diagnosis. It also allows people living with cancer to keep active and feel part of something bigger than their illness."

The 1st Macmillan Mile was held in Southport in 2017, which saw more than 200 people take part and raised over ₤1,000 for Macmillan Cancer Support. Then in 2018 the Macmillan Mile was held in Birkenhead and achieved similar figures.

Lucy added:- "The Macmillan Mile events also aim to raise awareness of the fantastic support that's available from Macmillan for people living with cancer right across Merseyside, not just in Hospital or clinical settings but also in the local community. So why not come along to this family-friendly event and see for yourselves that whatever cancer throws your way, we're right there with you."

For information, support or just someone to talk to, call:- 0808 808 00 00 or visit:- MacMillan.Org.UK.

PAT dogs on the STROKE ward

MUFFIN and Scout have visited both Ormskirk and Southport Hospitals during:- 'Take your dog to work day.' Both fully trained:- 'pets as therapy' (PAT) dogs, they visited patients on the children's ward and stroke unit.

Paediatric Consultant May Ng, who is also owner of PAT dog Muffin, explains:- "Muffin joined our family to help my son Brendan who is severely autistic. Muffin went through two years of training to make sure he was obedient enough to be able to be completed trusted in any situation. He had to undertake 2 very challenging exams to test his reactions and temperament. Children react so well to Muffin, he can help to distract nervous little ones, or bring a smile when they are feeling tired or sad during a Hospital stay. He has had an incredible impact on Brendan and I would recommend any parent with an autistic child consider getting a therapy dog. I have recently written a book 'A Journey with Brendan' which covers this subject and other issues, and may be of help to other families who are experiencing life with autism."

Silas Nicholls, chief executive at Southport and Ormskirk Hospitals NHS Trust explains:- "The team here has worked very hard to get us to the point where we can allow dogs to visit wards. The benefits are clear and I am delighted that we can offer additional help for patients alongside traditional treatment. We are looking at bringing support pets into other areas such as critical care, where early rehabilitation is incredibly beneficial."

Find out more about pets as therapy here.