The guts to give up

Several groups of locals are spending this month giving up things that may be enjoyable, such as alcohol and sugar, but are not good for us if we over-indulge. They are making these sacrifices as part of the Gut Cancer Foundation’s annual Give it Up for Gut Cancer challenge and fundraiser.

Among the groups taking part are the Clean Living Coasties, a group of seven made up of family and friends of Gut Cancer Foundation marketing and communications manager, Kristin Bernstone of Stanmore Bay.

There is also a group of four called Sugarless Coasties, and a Coastie Postie. Local businesses Northern Arena and Caci Clinic Silverdale have also joined the challenge.

Kristin says the idea of giving up sugar, alcohol or time spent on the couch is also about raising awareness that maintaining a healthy weight, being active and limiting your alcohol intake are important for gut health.

She is giving up all three, and says it’s been tough but satisfying and makes you very aware of how much sugar is hidden in many processed foods.

The challenge runs this entire month, finishing at Easter.

“It’s been good to have a re-set, but I’m looking forward to a crème egg at Easter,” she says.

Around 1200 nationwide have signed up to take part and the Gut Cancer Foundation hopes to better last year’s total raised of $290,000.

The organisation formed in 2008 and is focused on funding research into better treatments for gut cancers, which include oesophagus, stomach, pancreatic and liver cancer. It also advocates for access to medicines. There are no screening programmes for gut cancers and they are hard to detect early, which is why survival rates are low. A total of 17 New Zealanders are diagnosed with a gut cancer daily, and every day eight Kiwis die of one of these cancers.

More information and to support these groups go to: www.giveitup.nz/t/clean-living-coasties, www.giveitup.nz/t/sugarless-coasties and www.giveitup.nz/t/coastie-posties