October is breast cancer awareness month. Party in Pink is a charity campaign launched by Zumba Fitness, aiming to raise both awareness of breast cancer and funds to support research into causes and treatments for it. A zumbathon is being held in Worcester as part of the campaign.

Up to 50,000 people in the UK are hit by the diagnosis of breast cancer every year. It is the world’s most common type of cancer in women and 8 in 10 women aged over 50 are said to be at risk.

The Zumba ‘Party in Pink’ initiative is supporting the ‘Global Research Grant for Breast Cancer Prevention’, run in partnership with Susan G Komen – a foundation dedicated to education and research of causes and treatments for breast cancer. This year, funds raised by the event will go toward research into lignans found in flaxseed. Flaxseed oil has been said to have anti-cancer properties since the 1950s and according to a number of studies, these lignans could play a role in cancer treatment and prevention - but more research needs to be done.

The zumbathon coming to Worcester on October 30 is a good opportunity to support the campaign, but also to improve personal health. In September 2013, research carried out by VisionCritical found:

• More than half (51%) the population has watched a dancing programme this year, with Strictly Come Dancing topping the list of viewed shows.

• Over half (51%) agree that dancing is a good way of keeping fit, over a third (36%) claim it de-stresses them, and nearly a third of people (29%) say that dancing is a good way of forgetting their troubles.

• A fifth (22%) even say that dancing has improved their mental state.

• Over 1 in 10 people (12%), and nearly 2 in 5 women (18%), have tried Zumba in the UK.

• Londoners claim to be the best dancers, whilst those from the North West, East Midlands and South East are all fighting it out for the title of worst UK dancers.

Commenting on her role as Zumba Party in Pink ambassador, Michelle Heaton of Liberty-X-fame said: “Each year thousands of women are affected by breast cancer in some way and this campaign has created a really fun and positive way to raise awareness and funds to help prevent the disease. Going to Zumba is an amazing way to lift your mood, the music is so infectious you forget you’re even exercising!” Michelle made the decision at the end of 2012 to have a double mastectomy, after being informed that she had an 80% chance of being diagnosed with breast cancer.

14 million people worldwide take part in Zumba every week in over 140,000 different locations. In the UK alone there are 1.2 million participants per week across 13,000 locations, providing an ideal platform to reach and engage a wide audience.

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The Worcester Zumbathon will be taking place on October, 30, at:

University of Worcester

Henwick Grove

Worcester, WR26AJ, GB

For an example of a zumbathon, watch this video: http://tinyurl.com/ophsoekFor more information visit: http://zumbathon.zumba.com/details/19668