The Big Give Christmas Challenge, 5-9th December
One in six people live with the daily pain and suffering of arthritis, which affects people of all ages and is the biggest cause of pain and disability in the UK. Arthritis rarely kills but it takes people’s lives away, preventing them from working and even doing simple things like going up and down stairs and making a cup of coffee. The chances are, it will either affect you, or someone you know.
For many living with arthritis, their only treatment is taking painkillers, which is why Arthritis Research UK is highlighting the urgent need to find a breakthrough.
Now you can help make double the difference. For a few days only, between 5-9th December, The Big Give Christmas Challenge is offering you a chance to double the value of your gift to help those living with arthritis. Donations made to Arthritis Research UK via the Big Give Christmas Challenge at the website below will be matched by the Challenge sponsor, pound for pound.
All the money raised through the Challenge will go towards the research taking place at the Arthritis Research UK Pain Centre in the University of Nottingham. The scientists are researching how pain is transmitted between the joints and the brain, in order to develop better pain relief for the millions of people suffering from arthritic conditions.
Dean Collier from Nottingham was 38 years old when he was diagnosed with osteoarthritis seven years ago. At the time he was working as a tram conductor and started suffering from pain in his right knee. As the pain from standing for long periods of time was unbearable, Dean was moved to driving the trams and later to an engineering role. However, the pain got so bad that Dean had to give up work. “I was at rock bottom at that point, it felt as though suffering from the pain had robbed me of my life”, he says.
“Initiatives such as the Big Give Christmas Challenge will not only raise vital funds for the Arthritis Research UK Pain Centre in Nottingham, but also highlights the need for better pain management for millions of other people like me.”
The Arthritis Research UK Pain Centre Director, Professor David Walsh comments; “The Pain Centre has produced some really important discoveries in its first year. We’ve found out more about how nerves in the joint and cells in the spinal cord are activated as arthritis pain develops. The next four years will see us building on these strong foundations to deliver the results needed to transform understanding and treatment of arthritic pain.”
The charity is hoping to raise money towards the £500,000 it costs each year to fund the Arthritis Research UK Pain Centre in Nottingham.
Campaigns & Issues
Help Age UK fight loneliness and isolation
Shockingly, over one million older people have not seen a friend or family member in a whole month.
Age UK needs your support to fight loneliness and isolation by helping 16,000 older people to get online and get connected.
The Charity is through to a public vote for a £500,000 Global Impact Award from Google’s Global Impact Challenge and is urging people to visit their website to vote for their innovative project, which will open up a new online world for thousands of older people.
News
Duchess of Cornwall helps celebrate 75 years of volunteering
Older people’s charity Royal Voluntary Service, formerly known as WRVS, has celebrated 75 years of helping others at a thanksgiving service at St Paul’s Cathedral in London on Wednesday 22 May, which was attended by the charity’s President, HRH The Duchess of Cornwall.
1,200 Royal Voluntary Service volunteers, who have dedicated years of their time to helping older people in the community, were also at the ceremony, and some met The Duchess at a reception afterwards.
Competitions & Fun
Win a bundle of two Yoga and Pilates fitness DVDs
Have you wanted to try yoga but weren’t sure where to begin?
Learn correct form and breathing techniques as you move through basic yoga poses and sequences that will help you increase strength, flexibility and overall fitness.
Use each program separately, or, as you become more familiar and confident with the poses, connect all three into a challenging 60-minute workout.
And get the most out of your Pilates workout – from the number 1 instructor, Mari Winsor. This DVD is the definitive beginner’s guide to learning correct form and alignment to achieve faster, safer results. Develop the long, lean muscles Pilates is famous for, while increasing strength and energy.
Reader Offers
Win a prize at home or away in this month's prize draw with Silver Travel Advisor!
Enter now and you could win a prize at home or away! How about a 7 night break for 2, with flights included, in beautiful Slovenia? Or a trip to London’s glitzy theatreland, staying in a 4* hotel? Both fabulous treats which must be won!
Silver Travel Advisor is a friendly website packed with advice, tips, information and honest reviews written by and for silver travellers (aged over 50). A team of advisors are on hand to answer queries (for free), and you can share your own experiences too.
Health & Wellbeing
New funding for Cardiff researchers to develop new drugs to treat osteoarthritis
Medical research charity Arthritis Research UK has awarded a team of researchers at Cardiff University a grant of £200,000 to investigate new drugs to treat early onset osteoarthritis. The team will investigate a new therapy to reduce the risk of developing osteoarthritis.
Property & Finance
Wanting to Retire Early and to Retire Wealthy?
Roy Weaver is on hand with your essential guide to successful property investing
If you are looking to retire but are unsure how you’re going to survive on your pension, then property investing could be the way forward.
Successful property investor Roly Weaver provides an essential guide for anyone wanting to be successful in the property investing arena in his new book ‘Retire Early Retire Wealthy’ (£14.99 Panoma Press).
‘Retire Early Retire Wealthy’ is jam-packed full of vital advice from self-taught Roly who reveals numerous proven techniques to support the reader in taking control of their own financial future. Not only does Roly’s book provide proven strategies, it also offers interesting anecdotes and sound advice.
Leisure and Lifestyle
Coffee on thighs and rinsing hair with beer – women’s (often bizarre) beauty tips
Rubbing coffee on thighs to combat cellulite and applying baking soda on teeth to make them whiter are among the weird and wonderful beauty secrets employed by women, a survey has revealed.
Other tricks of the trade include rinsing hair with raw eggs or beer to make it appear shiny and dabbing toothpaste on spots and insect bites to help heal them.
The research, which delved into the beauty regimes, habits and rituals of 2,000 women found one in ten would be prepared to try any bizarre tips if it made them look better.
Travel
Popular travel writing workshop - special offer for MT readers
Learn how to write travel blogs and articles, keep a travel diary or to record experiences for yourself or others to read.
The travel review site and advice forum for travellers aged 50+, Silver Travel Advisor (www.silvertraveladvisor.com), is once again encouraging aspiring travel writers to attend their travel writing workshop, to be held on Wednesday 17th March 2013 hosted by cruise line Noble Caledonia at their offices in Belgravia, Central London, at a cost of £55 per person.
Mature Times is going from strength to strength!