MEDIA ALERT – KING’S COLLEGE DENTAL STUDENTS CROWNED TOP FUNDRAISER FOR THE MOUTH CANCER FOUNDATION
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE –TUESDAY 27TH JANUARY 2015
INTERVIEWS AVAILABLE -
· MOUTH CANCER WALK PARTICIPANT – PUJA JETHWA
To set up an interview please call Media Ambitions on 0208 940 2222.
“I was thrilled to find out we were one of the top fundraisers for the Mouth Cancer 10KM Awareness Walk. Every team member made a huge effort to raise money and awareness.”
Puja Jethwa, Walker
Team KCL Walkabout are celebrating today after being named as one of the highest fundraisers for the Mouth Cancer Foundation’s 10KM Awareness Walk.
The walk, which took place on Saturday, 20th September 2014 in London’s Hyde Park, was a huge success and raised £26, 881.50. Team KCL Walkabout collected £1,451.29 in sponsorship and won a course of 10 Reiki sessions courtesy of Nirvana Spirit.
Team leader Puja Jethwa, her fellow students and friends Alice Harman, Rachel McCartney, Kevin Huynh, Jess Ak-hye, Maya Amlani, Farima Mehrabi, Tessmin Ooi, Sabrina Datu, Altaz Dagha and Marc Burton have made an impressive contribution in raising awareness of mouth cancer which still remains a relatively unknown disease despite affecting nearly 8000 people in the UK every year.
Team KCL Walkabout decided to participate in the walk because as dental students they understand how important it is to raise awareness of this debilitating disease, educate patients and stress the importance of regular dental checks. Puja says “I would strongly encourage anyone to take part in the Mouth Cancer 10KM Awareness Walk as it was a brilliant event. We walked with people who have survived mouth cancer, heard their stories and met their friends and families.”
Dr Vinod Joshi, Founder of the Mouth Cancer says “The Mouth Cancer 10KM Awareness Walk has once again been a great success for the charity. All funds raised go towards helping improve the support for mouth cancer sufferers and their families, as well as increasing the public’s awareness about mouth cancer.”
The charity is indebted to all the fundraisers who came out to support the walk. For more information about the walk, please visit www.mouthcancerwalk.org.
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For further information or to arrange an interview please contact:
Elizabeth Laverack or Izabela Nair
Media Ambitions - 020 8940 2222
NOTES TO EDITORS
The Mouth Cancer Foundation – www.mouthcancerfoundation.org
The Mouth Cancer Foundation is a registered charity no. 1109298.
The Mouth Cancer Foundation is a charity solely dedicated to supporting people affected by head and neck cancer. Support can play a pivotal role in meeting the psychosocial needs of patients. The Mouth Cancer Foundation’s online and telephone support service has given head and neck cancer patients and families the opportunity to articulate the consequences of their cancer journey and communicate their shared experiences. It is vital that the charity continues to provide free accessible information resources and ensure Mouth Cancer Foundation support is provided to those that need them.
About Mouth Cancer
Ø Around 60,000 people in the UK will be diagnosed with mouth cancer over the next decade.
Ø In the UK, 7,700 people were diagnosed with Mouth Cancer in 2011.
Ø Tobacco use is still considered the main cause of mouth cancer. According to the World Health Organisation, up to half of current smokers will die of a tobacco-related illness – including mouth cancer.
Ø Drinking to excess can increase the risk of mouth cancer by four times. Those who smoke and drink are up to 30 times more likely to develop mouth cancer.
Ø Mouth cancer is twice more common in men than in women, though an increasing number of women are being diagnosed with the disease.
Ø Age is another factor, with people over the age of 40 more likely to be diagnosed, though more young people are now being affected than previously.
Ø Poor diet is linked to a third of all cancer cases.
Ø Experts suggest the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), transmitted through oral sex, could overtake tobacco and alcohol as the main risk factor within the coming decade.
Ø Cancers can occur in any part of the mouth, tongue, lips, and adjacent areas like the throat, salivary glands, pharynx, larynx, sinus, and other sites in the head and neck area.
Symptoms include:
Ø An ulcer or white or red patch anywhere in the mouth that does not heal within 3 weeks.
Ø A lump or swelling anywhere in the mouth, jaw or neck that persists for more than 3 weeks.
Ø A difficulty in swallowing, chewing or moving the jaw or tongue.
Ø A numbness of the tongue or other area of the mouth.
Ø A feeling that something is caught in the throat.
Ø A chronic sore throat or hoarseness that persists more than 6 weeks.
Ø An unexplained loosening of teeth with no dental cause.
More information about Mouth Cancer is available at the Mouth Cancer Foundation web site www.mouthcancerfoundation.org or by emailing .