20 Yrs and 10,000 bikes for Children with Cancer. BBC “The One Show” Honours Charity Founder with One Big Thank you.

Last Thursday (19th Feb), The BBC One Show, along with some help from celebrities such as Alexander Armstrong and Sir Chris Hoy himself, pulled off a surprise “One Big Thank-you” for Mike Grisenthwaite, founder of the Nationwide Children’s Cancer Charity Cyclists Fighting Cancer.

Launched from his kitchen table 20yrs ago, CFC has grown hugely, and today has 4 Charity Bike shops in Cheltenham, London, Manchester and their HQ in Stratford-upon-Avon. 

The shops take donated bikes and parts as well as selling new accessories and servicing all types of bikes.

All proceeds from the shops and other fundraisers go towards providing more bikes and specially adapted trikes for children living with and beyond cancer in the UK. These bikes help them get outside and active, and have huge benefits for both their physical and mental wellbeing.

Since starting, the team at CFC have gifted over 10,000 bikes and trikes to children all over the country, as well as delivering exercise equipment to many Children’s Hospitals to introduce children to exercise during lengthy hospital stays.

All of this after Mike was inspired to “give back” having used exercise, and specifically Cycling, to get through his own arduous cancer treatment.

During the amazing piece which can be found on BBC iPlayer here (from 14:50min) https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m002rkcm/the-one-show-19022026

Mike was fooled into thinking Alexander needed a puncture repair, before revealing the surprise. He then received heart felt messages from children and families his charity has helped as well as recognition of his huge achievements from Sir Chris Hoy, Family, Friends and Colleagues.

An emotional Mike had a rare speechless moment and was “blown away” by the recognition.

For more info on the charity and their activities go to www.cyclistsfc.org.uk

Polar Explorer Craig Mathieson Awarded Prestigious Polar Medal – Exclusive Interview Reveals Impact of His Youth Charity

Craig Mathieson & Neil Jurd in conversation

Scottish polar explorer and founder of The Polar Academy, Craig Mathieson, has been honoured with the Polar Medal in the King's New Year's Honours List 2026, recognising his outstanding contributions to polar exploration and youth development.

The medal, one of the UK's highest awards for polar service, celebrates Mathieson's decades of expeditions, including man-hauling to the South Pole in 2004, reaching the Geographical North Pole in 2006, and leading sea-kayaking missions along Greenland's east coast, alongside his groundbreaking work with The Polar Academy, the charity he established in 2013.

The Academy selects and trains overlooked young people (aged 13-17) facing trauma or invisibility in education, taking them on rigorous Arctic expeditions to Greenland. 

Through physical challenges, trust-building, and 24/7 support, it unlocks confidence, resilience, and aspiration, transforming participants into teachers, scientists, Royal Marines, and community leaders. 

Over 270 young people have taken part, with many now mentoring others and raising awareness.

In an exclusive video interview released on 29 December 2025, leadership coach and former British Army officer Neil Jurd OBE speaks with Mathieson about the Academy's origins, selection process, and why it succeeds where traditional systems often fail. 

Mathieson shares how compassion, belief in human potential, and deliberate challenges in extreme conditions build lasting change—drawing parallels to his own military and mountaineering background.

Watch the full interview here:  https://leader-connect.co.uk/videos/interview-with-craig-mathieson-of-the-polar-academy

"Seeing these kids step into their potential—despite everything—is the real purpose of the expedition," Mathieson says in the discussion.

Mathieson, also 'Explorer-in-Residence' at the Royal Scottish Geographical Society and recipient of an Honorary Doctorate from Abertay University, continues to lead the charity alongside his family team.

thepolaracademy.org

https://leader-connect.co.uk

World Teen Mental Wellness Day: Listening, Supporting, Acting

World Teen Mental Wellness Day shines a much-needed light on the emotional and psychological wellbeing of young people. 

The teenage years are a period of rapid change, socially, physically and academically, and while they can be exciting, they can also feel overwhelming.

In the UK, conversations around youth mental health have become more open in recent years, yet many teenagers still struggle in silence. 

A dedicated awareness day provides a chance to pause, listen and take meaningful action.

Why Teen Mental Wellness Matters

Adolescence is when identity, confidence and coping skills are being formed. Pressures can come from many directions:

Academic expectations

Social media comparison

Friendship dynamics

Body image concerns

Family challenges

Uncertainty about the future

According to NHS guidance, anxiety, low mood and emotional distress are increasingly common among young people. Early support makes a significant difference. 

When teens are equipped with healthy coping tools and trusted adults to talk to, long-term outcomes improve dramatically.

The Hidden Pressures of Modern Teen Life

Today’s teenagers navigate a digital landscape that previous generations did not. Social platforms can provide connection and creativity, but they can also amplify comparison and unrealistic expectations.

Organisations such as YoungMinds regularly highlight how exam stress, online bullying and social pressures can affect confidence and self-esteem.

For many teens, the challenge is not just dealing with stress, it’s knowing that what they are feeling is valid and that help is available.

Signs a Teen Might Be Struggling

Every young person is different, but some common indicators include:

Withdrawal from friends or activities

Changes in sleep or appetite

Irritability or sudden mood shifts

Drop in school performance

Loss of interest in hobbies

Talking negatively about themselves

None of these automatically signal a serious condition, but they do suggest a need for gentle conversation and support.

Practical Ways to Support Teen Mental Wellness

World Teen Mental Wellness Day is not only about awareness, it’s about action. Here are meaningful steps parents, carers and communities can take:

1. Create Safe Conversations

Ask open questions. Listen without judgement. Avoid rushing to solutions.

2. Encourage Healthy Routines

Regular sleep, balanced meals, physical activity and time outdoors support emotional resilience.

3. Limit Digital Overload

Encourage breaks from screens and promote positive online habits.

4. Promote Emotional Literacy

Help teens name and understand their feelings. Journalling and creative expression can help.

5. Seek Professional Support When Needed

If concerns persist, speak to a GP or access school counselling services. Early intervention is key.

Resources for UK Teens and Families

Support is available. Trusted organisations include:

YoungMinds – advice and a parents’ helpline https://www.youngminds.org.uk

Childline – confidential support for under 19s https://www.childline.org.uk

Samaritans – 24/7 emotional support https://www.samaritans.org

No young person should feel they have to cope alone.

A Community Responsibility

Teen mental wellness is not solely a family issue, it is a community one. Schools, youth groups, sports clubs and online spaces all play a role in shaping a teenager’s sense of belonging and self-worth.

World Teen Mental Wellness Day reminds us that checking in, listening properly and modelling healthy emotional behaviour can change a young person’s life trajectory.

A simple question  “How are you really feeling?” can open a door that might otherwise stay closed.

If you are marking the day, consider starting a conversation, sharing trusted resources or simply making time to listen. Small actions, consistently applied, create lasting impact.

World Music Therapy Day: The Healing Power of Sound

Every year, World Music Therapy Day shines a spotlight on something many of us instinctively understand: music changes how we feel. 

A single song can lift our mood, unlock a memory, calm anxiety, or help us process emotion. 

But music therapy goes far beyond simply listening to a favourite playlist. 

It is a structured, evidence-based clinical practice delivered by trained professionals.

In the UK, music therapy is provided by qualified practitioners registered with the Health and Care Professions Council and supported by organisations such as British Association for Music Therapy and NHS services.

So what exactly is music therapy... and why does it matter?

What Is Music Therapy?

Music therapy is a therapeutic approach that uses music intentionally to support mental, emotional, physical and social wellbeing. Sessions may involve:

Playing instruments

Singing

Songwriting

Listening and discussing music

Improvisation

Movement to music

No musical ability is required. The focus is not performance or talent. It is about expression, communication and connection.

A trained music therapist tailors sessions to the individual’s needs, whether that involves trauma recovery, neurological rehabilitation, dementia care, or support for children with additional needs.

The Health Benefits

1. Supporting Mental Health

Music therapy is widely used for anxiety, depression and trauma. Structured sessions can help people regulate emotions, reduce stress hormones and develop coping strategies.

For individuals who struggle to verbalise feelings, music provides a safe alternative language.

2. Dementia and Memory

Music has a powerful link to memory. Familiar songs can help people living with dementia reconnect with personal history and identity. Even when verbal communication declines, musical memory often remains intact.

3. Neurological Rehabilitation

Following stroke or brain injury, rhythm and melody can support speech recovery and motor function. Techniques such as rhythmic auditory stimulation help improve coordination and movement.

4. Children and Young People

Music therapy can support children with autism, ADHD or communication difficulties. It helps build confidence, social interaction and emotional awareness.

5. Pain and Stress Reduction

Listening to calming music can lower heart rate, reduce blood pressure and ease perception of pain. Hospitals increasingly integrate music therapy into palliative and cancer care settings.

Music Therapy vs. Listening to Music

It is important to distinguish between therapeutic music use and clinical music therapy.

Listening to music at home can certainly improve mood and relaxation.

Music therapy, however, involves structured goals, assessment and professional guidance.

Both have value – but clinical music therapy is a recognised healthcare intervention.

How You Can Mark World Music Therapy Day

You do not need to book a session to honour the day (though exploring local services is a worthwhile step). Here are simple, health-focused ways to participate:

Create a “wellbeing playlist” that lifts your mood

Spend 10 minutes listening to instrumental music mindfully

Try gentle drumming or rhythmic tapping as a stress release

Sing along to songs linked to positive memories

Explore local music therapy services in your area

The Science Behind the Sound

Research continues to show measurable benefits. Brain imaging studies reveal that music activates multiple regions at once – emotional centres, motor areas, memory circuits and even reward pathways.

Music increases dopamine (associated with pleasure and motivation) and can reduce cortisol (the stress hormone). It literally changes brain chemistry.

That is not mystical. It is neurological.

In a world that often feels noisy and overwhelming, music therapy reminds us that sound can also soothe, connect and heal.

Whether it is a choir in a community hall, a quiet piano session in a hospital ward, or a one-to-one therapeutic space, music remains one of the most accessible and powerful tools for wellbeing.

On World Music Therapy Day, take a moment to notice what music does for you. It may be doing more than you realise.

British Association of Musical Theraphy https://www.bamt.org/music-therapy/what-is-music-therapy

British Liver Trust launches campaign to tackle late diagnosis of rare liver conditions

The British Liver Trust has launched a new campaign ahead of Rare Disease Day to tackle the late diagnosis of rare liver conditions, after new analysis of patient survey data revealed that many people experienced symptoms before diagnosis. 

Yet around a quarter of symptomatic patients had their concerns dismissed or were sent home without further investigation.

Liver disease is often associated with alcohol or lifestyle factors. But many rare liver conditions are autoimmune or genetic, affecting people of all ages, including babies, children and young adults. 

This misconception can contribute to delays in diagnosis and prevent people from seeking timely support.

Analysis of responses from more than 1,000 people living with rare liver conditions across the UK found that around one in five patients who experienced symptoms were diagnosed “very late”, when their disease had already progressed and treatment options were limited.

In response, the British Liver Trust has launched No One Left Behind, a new campaign aimed at shining a spotlight on rarer liver conditions that are too often under-recognised and misunderstood.

The campaign calls for greater awareness of early warning signs among healthcare professionals and the public, improved information and support at diagnosis, and greater investment in research.

Persistent itching, nausea, abdominal pain and jaundice were among the most commonly reported early warning signs across rarer liver conditions, including Primary Biliary Cholangitis (PBC), Autoimmune Hepatitis (AIH) and Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis (PSC). These are chronic, progressive diseases that often require lifelong specialist care. In some cases, delayed diagnosis can lead to cirrhosis, liver failure or the need for transplantation.

According to the British Liver Trust, tens of thousands of people in the UK are living with rare liver diseases, many of which can take years to diagnose due to a lack of awareness and limited research.

Emma was diagnosed with autoimmune hepatitis more than two decades ago, aged just 17, after developing severe itching and jaundice and spending weeks in hospital undergoing tests. At the time, she had never heard of the condition and did not recognise that her symptoms were signs of serious liver disease.

Emma told That's Health: “So many people don’t realise liver disease doesn’t just affect people who drink alcohol. Conditions like mine are called ‘rare’, but they affect thousands of people.”

Rare Disease Day is marked globally each year on 28 February and aims to raise awareness of rare diseases and improve access to diagnosis, treatment and care for those affected.

Pamela Healy OBE, Chief Executive of the British Liver Trust, added: “Rare liver diseases may be less common, but for the thousands of people affected across the UK, their impact is life-changing. Too often, a lack of awareness leads to delayed diagnosis and unequal access to specialist care. 

"We need greater understanding, earlier diagnosis and sustained investment in research to ensure no one living with a rare liver condition is left behind.”

The British Liver Trust is the UK’s leading liver health charity and provides information, support and advocacy for everyone affected by liver disease. This includes people living with rare liver conditions such as autoimmune hepatitis, primary biliary cholangitis (PBC), primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), Alagille syndrome and biliary atresia.

For more information, visit www.britishlivertrust.org.uk.

Extreme cold increases risk of cardiac arrest by almost 20%, new study finds

Temperatures below -9°C increase the risk of cardiac arrest by 18.9% for over two weeks, new research from Corvinus University of Budapest has revealed.

Alongside Semmelweis University, Budapest University of Technology and Economics, the University of Pannonia, and the National Ambulance Service, researchers analysed temperature data with over 116,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrest cases over a five-year period.

The lowest risk for cardiac arrest was observed at 19°C, with the number of cases increasing as the temperature grew hotter or colder. 

While there was notable risk above 27°C, the largest rise in risk was linked to cold spells (-9°C and below) lasting at least two days. This impact did not differ between men and women.

The researchers also identified an important difference in how heat and cold affect the body. Heat acts quickly and only up to a week, while cold spells place a longer-term strain on the body, with effects appearing after three days and increasing the risk of cardiac arrest for over two weeks after the cold period has ended.

“Although the effect of the weather is weak, it affects us all. In recent decades, climate change has made our weather more variable, and our bodies must adapt to this. This is particularly challenging for those who are unwell. While we have learned to pay attention to heatwaves, research shows that we must also consider the effects of cold weather,” Brigitta Szilágyi, Associate Professor at Corvinus University and co-author told That's Health.

The researchers offer practical implications; during heatwaves, healthcare services need to respond rapidly, while cold periods require heightened readiness over longer periods. 

By incorporating these findings into regional warning systems, healthcare practices could also provide greater support, emphasising hydration during heat, and blood pressure management and appropriate clothing during cold periods.

These findings were first published in the journal Resuscitation Plus. The full paper is open access here 

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666520425003315?via%3Dihub

Local housing charity raises £20,000 for Cornwall Blood Bikes

Colleagues at Coastline Housing have presented £20,000 to Cornwall Blood Bikes to help the local charity in its lifesaving work.

The money is the result of a year’s worth of fundraising by colleagues at the Cornish housing charity and this year they raised a record amount.

CEO Allister Young, who was proud to help hand over the cheque, told That's Health: “Coastline colleagues clearly felt very passionately about Cornwall Blood Bikes to raise such a fantastic amount. 

"Any of us living in or visiting Cornwall never know when we might need the services of this fantastic charity and its hard-working volunteers so we’ve been proud to fundraise for them across the past 12 months.”

Colleagues at Coastline raised the funds thanks to a number of events including their big annual marathon challenge in September where colleagues between them clocked up just over 3,000 miles in one day and raised £5,128. 

Participants walked, ran and cycled the miles, and one small group of colleagues even did a special motorbike ride to add some miles to the total, in tribute to Cornwall Blood Bikes and the many miles volunteers cover each year.

Across the year, staff at Coastline also held events such as BBQs, a quiz night, raffle, big breakfasts and a VE day celebration.

Cornwall Blood Bikes is a volunteer-run charity providing a free, "out of hours" courier service for the NHS, transporting blood, plasma, urgent samples, medication, and donor breast milk between hospitals, hospices, and care homes. They operate weekday nights (5pm–7am) and 24 hours on weekends/bank holidays to save the NHS money on courier fees.

Jayne Penlerick, Chair of Cornwall Blood Bikes, told us: “We're really just blown away by this £20,000 donation. We are all volunteers and Cornwall Blood Bikes gets busier each year. 

"Last year the team undertook around 7,800 jobs and rode a total of around 244,000 miles doing so. We also celebrated our 10th anniversary. 

"We really wouldn’t be able to do any of this without people like the team at Coastline Housing who fundraise so hard for us. It means so much to be able to use this money to keep these bikes on the road for the people of Cornwall.”

Assistant Director of Finance at Coastline Zoe Field, who organised the Coastline charity marathon challenge, added: “Every year I think to myself that we won’t beat our previous total in terms of miles and money – but then we seem to manage it. I’m so proud of the way colleagues get involved and really push themselves to make a difference and we know this money will make a real difference to Cornwall Blood Bikes.”

https://www.coastlinehousing.co.uk

https://cornwallbloodbikes.org