Hollyoaks’ actress Nicole Barber-Lane has said she will run the Flora London Marathon, which is to be held next month on April 13th.
The actress, who plays head of the unruly McQueen family Myra McQueen, will lace up a pair of running shoes, unknown if they are Ecco or not, to complete the 26-mile event for charity Jeans for Genes.
“Everybody I’ve spoken to who knows me can’t believe I’m doing this because I don’t like running and I don’t like walking – I don’t like exercise!” she said.
Ms Barber-Lane said she has been training by walking her but has “weaned off it” as she got tired – and explains her strategy is to use a combination of walking and jogging to complete the course.
Jeans for Genes funds research into genetic diseases that affect children, such as cystic fibrosis and haemophilia, and offers support to families.
The charity often uses sponsored dress down days at schools or workplaces in its fundraising efforts.
Running for charity or health? Find Ecco shoes here
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Women runners in Norwich are dashing to sign up for Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life events, reports the Norwich Evening News.
So far 6,329 women, some of whom could be wearing Ecco shoes, have agreed to run or walk in one of the three runs that will take place in May.
Gemma Turpin, Cancer Research UK’s area event manager, told the paper: “The figures look fantastic. It’s the quickest that they have ever gone.”
Last year more than 10,000 took to the tracks to help raise money for the cancer charity, while this year there is room for 12,000 to run the five kilometre course.
Already, 2,591 will run or walk in the 13:00 GMT event on May 3rd, while 3,177 women will take part in the 11:00 GMT race on May 4th with a further 561 lacing up their trainers at 15:30 GMT.
The women-only Race for Life is Cancer Research UK’s main fundraising event. Last year, 665,000 took part and raised £40 million for the charity
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Events held at Yorkshire’s Don Valley Stadium could see more than 16,000 runners – some who may be sporting the latest Ecco shoes – dash over to attend.
The first event on the programme will be the annual Lord Mayor’s ten kilometre race, which takes place on March 16th and draws around 900 flat course runners, according to the Sheffield Star.
Over 1,000 participants from across the UK will attend the Sheffield Festival of Athletics on April 19th to compete in various track and field categories.
On April 27th, 4,500 runners are expected to take part in the Sheffield Half Marathon and the three kilometre Great Fun Run, while 10,000 are likely to run in the Race for Life events on June 15th.
The Sheffield Half Marathon has been held since 1982, with the current route taking thousands of runners through the city centre.
Pat Smith, stadium general manager, told the paper that the schedule “reinforces our reputation as one of the country’s leading athletics venue and ability to host high profile sports events”
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Liam Mc Cough, contestant in Big Brother eight, is to strap on his running shoes as he limbers up for the London Marathon in April.
The reality television star is set to run the event ain aid of the MS Society, the UK’s most common disabling neurological disorder which his mother suffers from.
Liam said one of the motivations behind entering the charity event is “to give something back” and increase awareness of the charity’s work.
His mother’s illness had also been one of the factors behind him entering Big Brother in the eighth series of the controversial reality tv show.
“I went into the Big Brother house for the experience and I knew it would be great fun, but I also wanted to give my mam the chance to watch me every day,” he said.
Liam concluded: “She spends most of her time in bed because of her MS and I thought that if I was on the TV she could keep an eye on me!”
If you are thinking of running the London Marathon, then you will need suitable footwear, available here from the likes of Merrell and Ecco.
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Darts legend Bobby George put down his arrows and laced up his running shoes in a charity supermarket trolley dash.
Mr George raised over £2,000 this week when he took part in the stunt to raise money for Sport Relief, reports the Norwich Evening News.
“I always like to try something different and I did – I wrecked the whole shop. It was good fun, normally you’d get chucked out for doing something like that,” he told the paper.
The two-time News of the World Darts Championship winner also said he would be joining other runners for the Sport Relief mile run in Ipswich on March 16th.
Mr George’s trolley dash took place at the Sainsbury’s Pound Lane store, which told the paper it was happy it could make a contribution to the charity.
Sport Relief will see thousands, included celebrities such as Fearne Cotton and Davina McCall, take part in events across the country.
If you’re taking part in a charity sporting event, find Keen, Ecco and Merrell footwear here.
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Australian golfer Stuart Appleby has signed a three year sponsorship deal with Ecco, according to the PGA Australia website.
Jesper Thuen, Ecco sponsorship and event manager, told the site: “He is one of the finest players in the world with a personality and charisma that perfectly fits with the Ecco brand.
“His tremendous success over the years speaks for itself.”
Appleby is currently ranked 27th on the official world golf ranking, while his scoring average of 69 is the second best on the PGA Tour.
As part of the sponsorship deal, Appleby will attend exclusive golf days and signing sessions, appear in the firm’s promotional material and wear Ecco branding clothing while he plays in competitions.
In 2003, he started the Stuart Appleby Junior Golf Foundation, which aims to promote golf to young people in his home state of Victoria.
Danish firm Ecco, which has been operating in Appleby’s home country for over ten years, also sponsors golfers Colin Montgomery, Fred Couples and Thomas Bjorn.
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A series of sponsored walks will allow people to raise money for a life-threatening disease this year.
The Great Strides Walk, held by the Cystic Fibrosis Trust, will involve 34 events across the country.
Proceeds from the event will be used to fund research into the disease and provide information and support to the families of sufferers, giving excellent motivation to strap on your Caterpillar or Merrell walking boots.
Bev Burnham-Jones, regional fundraising manager for the trust, told the Wrexham Evening Leader: “Our research, which is almost entirely funded by charitable donations, is making encouraging progress.
“Every step, no matter how small, brings us closer to finding a cure.”
Cystic fibrosis, the most common life-threatening inherited disease in the UK, affects over 8,000 people.
The trust expects to invest around £4 million in research in 2008, with the majority going into gene therapy.
In addition to the Great Strides Walk, the charity holds many other fundraising events, such as cycling, treks and skydives.
Further information is available at http://www.cftrust.org.uk.
If you need footwear to help your charitable efforts, Fitness Footwear stocks a wide range of Merrell, Caterpillar and Ecco walking boots.
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A minister in a Canadian province has been showing off her commitment to the environment by wearing a pair of green shoes.
Although it is unclear if the shoes are from the Ecco, Merrell or Keen, it is certain that they show how passionate the wearer, British Columbia’s finance minister Carole Taylor, is towards ensuring something is done to tackle issues such as climate change.
Speaking just before the announcement of a new budget, Ms Taylor said despite forecast slow economic growth, issues such as the environment need to be put first.
According to theglobeandmail.com, she said: “In years past, every time you got a bump in the economy, people have used that as an excuse to not deal with the environment. I don’t think we have that choice any more.”
The minister has still yet to confirm whether she is planning to introduce the controversial carbon tax.
If you are after a pair of ethically produced shoes which still offer comfort and durability, then footwear fit for golf or running in from the likes of Patagonia are available from here at Fitness Footwear.
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If fitness fanatics want to keep their weight down, then they could be getting through walking shoes faster than they can buy them if they are to follow the advice of the latest research.
Findings heard at the American Association for Advancement of Science’s conference, showed that those who exercise between 60 and 90 minutes a day – walking the equivalent of a marathon a week – are the most likely to stay in shape.
According to the study, those who keep running shoes such as those available from Hi-Tec, Ecco or Mizuno on for this length of time every day are likely to shed at least two stones and keep weight off for six years.
Speaking to the conference, Professor Philip James, chairman of the International Obesity Task Force, said that those who stick to this regime do not give themselves a break from their diet at the weekend.
According to the Times, he said: “They do a tremendous amount of physical activity, burning off about 2,700 calories a week.”
To keep up with this regime you will need suitable footwear, which can be found from the likes of Ecco and Merrell here at Fitness Footwear.
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James Toseland, superbike champion, has seen how putting on exercise shoes and running for charity can help those in need when he visited Leeds.
The effects of donning Mizuno, Ecco and Keen shoes, for Sports Relief were in evidence when the biker visited the Sports Relief funded, Archway project in Roundhay Road, Harehills.
Not only does the centre benefit from the less disadvantaged putting their Hi-Tec and Keen trainers on and running for charity but it encourages younger people to get together through sport and exercise.
Speaking to the Yorkshire Evening Post, Toseland, who became the world superbike champion when he was just 23 years-old, said: “The sports project has gone from strength to strength.
“[It] is helping build the teamworking and communication skills that will stand the young people in good stead for the future,” he concluded.
If you want to do your bit for Sports Relief this year, then you will need footwear which combines comfort with durability.
Brands such as Ecco, Keen and Merrell which offer this are available here from Fitness Footwear.
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Children are being challenged to get out their running shoes and do their bit for a schools fitness initiative to get the chance to win thousands of pounds worth of exercise equipment.
Trainers from the likes of Ecco, Hi-Tec, Merrell and Keen will be being placed on the feet of youngsters across the land as they compete in the Fitter Schools UK Challenge in the spring.
Speaking at the launch of the 2008 Challenge, Dean Horridge, managing director and founder of Fit For Sport,said: “Getting more children, more active is one of the government’s and the prime minister’s major objectives.
“That is why initiatives like the Fitter Schools Challenge are so important to the long term welfare of our children,” he added.
The challenge focuses on children’s activity and mobility and packs have been put together by the initiative organisers to ensure people can participate regardless of existing sports and PE facilities and capabilities.
Children looking to take part in the national event will need appropriate shoes.
Suitable brands such as Ecco, Merrell and Keen are available here from Fitness Footwear.
Popularity: unranked [?]
Digging out your Hi-Tec or old Mizuno trainers and going running can help lift depression, as in the case of snooker star Ronnie Sullivan, reports the BBC.
Regularly getting out his running shoes and going jogging helped the star battle his depression and reclaim the world number one snooker spot.
Asked if he had to choose between his cues and running shoes, it would be the green baize that the champion would apparently get rid of.
Speaking to the BBC, developmental biologist Professor Lewis Wolpert said that going running can help people psychologically, by providing them with time to think and reflect to work through stress.
“The standard story is that vigorous exercise increases the levels of endorphins in the brain and this gives one a sense of wellbeing, it also raises the heart rate which is good for us.”
The report follows statements from Britain’s Mental Health Foundation showing that 22 per cent of GPs questioned believe exercise would help lift milder forms of the condition.
To follow in Ronnie Sullivan’s footsteps you will need suitable footwear, the likes of which from Ecco and Merrell can be found here at Fitness Footwear
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A 65 year-old man is still showing that he is as fit as he was twenty years ago by giving up his day job to become an adventurer, according to reports.
The one time mountaineer and ice climber, who was born years before the technology of hiking boots of Ecco, Merrell and Keen existed to make exercise in the form of hill-walking that little bit easier, is still keen walker and loves to get on the slopes.
Bob Garrison, who according to the Concordmonitor.com has climbed mountains in the Himalayas and the Alps, now loves to ski down mountains rather than climb up them but preferred hiking to the ski lift.
“This year, I went up with my season pass and they threw me out,” Garrison said.
“They said no hiking allowed. I always hike up for my first run. That’s my thing, I like it,” he told the paper.
If you fancy investing in a pair of walking shoes that could last into your old age then suitable brands from the likes of Ecco, Merrell and Mizuno can be found here at Fitness Footwear.
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Two basketball coaches are giving up their shoes to help raise money for children’s charities around the world, it has been reported in the Los Angeles Times.
According to the paper, John Smith, a coach at Riverside College was inspired by Ron Hunter, a basketball team manager in Indianapolis who guided his team through a match bare foot to raise money for shoes for children round the world.
Taking Hunter’s lead to throw off his trainers, Mr Smith inspired his friend and fellow coach, Allen Caveness to do the same to raise money for the Samaritans’ Feet organisation.
Speaking to the Los Angeles Times, Smith said: “The story of the kid who didn’t have a pair of shoes until he was nine years old just moves me.”
The charity began after an African boy was given his first pair of shoes by a stranger.
Since then the goal has been to collect as many pairs of Mizuno, Ecco and Hi-Tec shoes as possible to reach a target of ten million pairs over the next decade.
If you fancy contributing, or just need a new pair of shoes then plenty of brands such as Caterpillar and Merrell are available here at Fitness Footwear.
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Soldiers at an Iraq base held a fun run as part of their first ever Mardi Gras event, a news provider has reported.
Whether they used Ecco, Mizuno or Keen is unclear, but the soldiers put on their running shoes to take part in the event, which was organised to mark the final 24 hours before the 40 day Christian festival of Lent.
Soldiers reported to duty at Camp Adder in Tallil, Iraq, wearing festive masks and beads and brandishing trumpets and trombones before embarking on the run around the base.
Speaking to leesvilledailyleader.com, Sergeant 1st class Shermeka Myles, support operations transportation non-commissioned officer in charge, said: “The music, beads, and costumes took my mind off the mission briefly to enjoy what I consider to be the best festivity the state …has to offer by far.”
After the run had finished the troop was shown a video from a school in their hometown of Louisiana wishing them support in their endeavours.
If you are thinking of taking up running, whether it be in fancy dress or not, then you will require suitable footwear, available here from the likes of Ecco and Merrell at Fitness Footwear.
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