Health & Wellbeing Archives - Page 22 of 22

Come Run With Parkes Olympian

May 19, 2016 By Maggi Barnard

Entries are still open for the third Northparkes Rotary Fun Run this Sunday and your chance to race with an Australian Olympian runner.

Last week Scott Westcott, who grew up in Parkes, was selected for the men’s marathon team for his debut Olympics. “I am looking forward to the Fun Run on Sunday and will do the 5km and the 2km kids race. I want to give the kids a target and anyone can chase me down,” he said.

As for his Olympic dream, Scott said it was a long wait but a very special moment to hear he had made the team. His road to wearing the green and gold is a remarkable story of persistence. “My dream began when I was 16. I had run qualifying times for three Olympic Games back since Sydney 2000, and for some reason my attempts to retire from competitive running in 2013 were only half hearted. Something kept me going” he said.

Running the Berlin Marathon last year was his 40^th birthday present from his family. His time of 2:15.30 secured his spot on the 2016 Rio Olympic team. According to the Australian Olympic Committee website, Scott will become Australia’s oldest athletics competitor to make his Games debut when he takes the Rio starting line at the age of 40 years and 331 days.

Westcott said having hunger for the sport and wonderful coaches over the years is the secret to his selection at 40.

“Having hunger and desire are essential,” Westcott explained. “I believe I have kept my hunger burning for close to 20 years. I am proud beyond words to represent all the people who have helped me along the long road I have taken. Special mention to my late Dad, Lawrie Westcott, who passed away in late 2014.”

Scott feels he is on track for a top performance in Rio. “I am probably in the best head space of my career. I believe I can lower the Australian Masters record I set last year in Berlin. I will prepare as smartly as I can and run myself into a peak for August 21. Bring it on!”

The Rio marathons will start and finish at the famous Sambódromo, the legendary home of the Rio Carnival parade, with a loop course near the edge of Guanabara Bay. The men’s race will be held on the final morning of the Games, Sunday 21^st August.

This Sunday more than 300 competitors are expected for the Fun Run in Parkes.

The program for the day is as follows:

7:30am – Registrations open at Harrison Park

8:50am – Final call for all 5km and 10km competitors to go to the start

8:55am – Welcome by the Mayor

9:00am – Event start: 10km and Greater 5km

10:00am – Event start: 2km

10:30am – Presentations commence

There will be enough time between the Greater 5km and 10km races for participants to cheer on or run with their children in the 2km event. Runners are to assemble on the start line 10 minutes before the start time.

Thriving Not Just Surviving

May 19, 2016 By Maggi Barnard

Parkes and Forbes residents are encouraged to sign up for a free Living Well After Cancer session this June. Cancer Council NSW Western is inviting Forbes, Parkes and surrounding community residents who have completed cancer treatment to attend their free, face-to-face Living Well After Cancer program.

Cancer and its treatment can bring a host of challenges. Survivors can face changes in their appearance and body function, and struggle to manage the emotional impact of the disease. Over 45,000 people in NSW are predicted to be diagnosed with cancer this year. The latest data shows that around two in three people diagnosed with cancer in NSW are alive five years later, with many becoming long term survivors. Fiona Marwick, Community Programme Co-ordinator at Cancer Council NSW Western said that Living Well After Cancer offers practical information and open discussion on the possible changes, challenges and opportunities that cancer survivors can experience. “There is often an expectation for cancer survivors to ‘get back to normal’ after treatment, but we know that for many this is far from reality. Living Well After Cancer gives participants the opportunity to connect with others on a similar journey, all within a supportive space. They can share tips, ideas and advice on managing life moving forward, with the aim to thrive, not just survive” she said.

Through Living Well After Cancer you can learn practical skills and information from the presenters and participants. It can be reassuring to know other people may be experiencing similar side effects, fears and anxieties but also gaining positivity from their cancer journey. Living Well After Cancer is open to cancer survivors, their carers, family, friends and work colleagues and is delivered by trained facilitators who have experienced the changes of cancer first-hand. The next Living Well After Cancer program session will be held at Parkes on Saturday 18th June 2016. To register to participate, or for more information call 1300 200 558.

Big Changes To Brows At La Bella

May 19, 2016 By Maggi Barnard

La Bella Medispa are now a Brow Artist International trainee clinic! The clinic has been hand-selected out of a group of beauty pros worldwide to participate in Brow Artists International’s one-of-a-kind program. The dedicated team are currently working hard to learn this amazing craft of the Natural Brow Restoration and Design System™.

Over the course of the next 6 months, you will see a change in our brow services at La Bella as we grow and offer the Natural Brow Restoration and Design System™ to perfection. Our new brow service is no longer a brow wax, as our goal is not merely to remove hair, but to create soft, flowing, beautiful brows, enhancing your beauty instantaneously. Brow Artists International™ Artists work meticulously with the brow to reveal its natural true potential through soft, flowing lines. Every woman can be restored naturally to a gorgeous set of brows regardless of what, or who, has unwittingly ravaged them before.

We are offering a limited time introductory price of $49 for your first design using Brow Artists International Natural Brow Restoration and Design System™. That’s almost half off the regular price for what the beauty industry is raving about – a soft brow naturally restored to its original potential. So beautiful. So you.

Heart Health

May 12, 2016 By Maggi Barnard

Parkes Pharmacy are encouraging all those who wish to learn more about their risk of heart disease to go to the pharmacy on 23^rd May. Three pharmacists will be available to answer any questions and assess your risks, just turn up or call to make a booking.

The good news is that heart disease is largely preventable. There is no single cause for heart disease, but there are risk factors that increase your chance of developing it.

What is my risk of heart disease?

Sometimes a heart attack will be the first sign that something is wrong. This is why it’s important to know your chance of having a heart attack or stroke- so you can take the steps to prevent one. It’s recommended that your overall risk be assessed to determine your personal heart and stroke risk score. Our Health Heart Check will look at some of your risk factors and give you your own risk score which you can share with your doctor.

What’s involved in the health heart check?

Our Health Heart Check involves a sit down consult with your pharmacist to check your absolute risk of getting cardiovascular disease. Your absolute risk is your chance, as an individual, of getting cardiovascular disease which includes all heart disease, stroke and heart failure.

To assess your risk our pharmacist will conduct the following tests and measurements:

Total cholesterol
Blood pressure measurement
Assess your smoking and diabetes status
Calculate your cardiovascular disease risk score

All results can be provided in a report for you to share with your doctor. Many of these tests and measurements can be provided as an ongoing service to our patients and results recorded and tracked over time. Be sure to make the most of the 3 pharmacists who will be available on the 23^rd May!

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