Bouncing to beat cancer
May 16th, 2008 by Balltalker
Bouncing to beat cancer
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| Jakkie Talmage takes participants through the aerobics session |
Fed up with keeping fit? Tired of the treadmill? Then follow the example of this lot.
About a dozen people hopped on to the 1970s toy to take part in what is thought to be the world’s first Space Hopper aerobics class to help raise awareness of testicular cancer.
They spent 45 minutes bouncing to music under the guidance of a fitness instructor at the Phoenix Gallery in Waterloo Place, Brighton.
The event was the latest in a long line of stunts to help promote the Bounce Your Balls campaign, which urges men to check regularly for any signs of testicular cancer.
Bounce Your Balls was started two years ago by 38-year-old Glen Poole from Burgess Hill with a Space Hopper race.
Last year IT consultant Andy Carr, from Burgess Hill, threw himself out of a hot air balloon while sitting on a Space Hopper for the campaign and also managed to raise £1,000 for the Orchid Cancer Appeal.
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That was followed in May last year by Space Hoppers descending on Hove Lawns for a world record attempt at the number of people bouncing simultaneously.
While the event did not break the record, scores of people did turn up despite the bad weather.
Other stunts include the building of a giant pyramid out of 300 space hoppers during last year’s Brighton Festival.
The campaign uses the stunts to help raise much-needed money for the Teenage Cancer Trust, the Bob Champion Trust, the Orchid Cancer Appeal, Everyman and the Men’s Health Forum.
The campaign is also aiming to raise £1 million for the charities during the next three years and is hoping to get the Space Hopper aerobics classes introduced to leisure centres and gyms across the country. Mr Poole said: “It’s a great way to raise awareness of testicular cancer and remind men to bounce their balls for cancer on a regular basis.
“We want to get the message out there that men should be checking themselves on a regular basis and, if they find a problem, getting to a doctor.
“Testicular cancer is the most common cancer in men aged 18 to 30 but is curable 99% of the time if diagnosed early. Making young men aware they need to bounce their balls regularly and check for cancer will save lives.”
Bounce Your Balls is currently looking for teams for its next event, a hopathon, which is to take place during the Sussex Triathlon at Ardingly next month.
For more information about the campaign, visit www.bounceyourballs.com or call Mr Poole on 07981 334222.
7:35pm today
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