RUNNING TOWARDS A BIG 40TH BIRTHDAY

Back in 2018 Kirsty decided it was time to lose some weight and attempt to get fit. She had never been a fitness person or even a runner, but she was determined to give it a go. Her first attempt at running 5k took her 40 minutes and in her own words, “nearly killed her”. But she was a woman on a mission and through hard work and determination she lost four and a half stone.

But the journey didn’t end there. As Boris Johnson stood up to address the nation on 23rd March 2020 to put us all under

lockdown restrictions, Kirsty was already working from home in her role for Bower Media as a research and insight assistant and she did not relish the prospect of being stuck at home all day every day. She needed an excuse to get out. So she set about running 5k every day. She stuck to her word and nearly 500 days later she is still out pounding the streets of Preston every day to run 5k, getting her personal best down to just 23 minutes.

As day 100 approached on her running journey Kirsty wanted to challenge herself further and on day 97 she ran a full marathon, lapping Ashton Park in Preston 19 times. Not a bad achievement for someone who still claims to not be a running person.

That still wasn’t enough though and the challenges continued for Kirsty. This

In 2018 Kirsty Quigley from Preston started an epic journey little realising that it would result in her planning to run 40 miles for her 40th birthday in August this year, to help raise money for Knife Crime Awareness – In Memory of Colin McGinty

THIS YEAR SHE CELEBRATES HER 40TH BIRTHDAY AND HAS DECIDED TO RUN 40 MILES IN AID OF KNIFE CRIME AWARENESS

year she celebrates her 40th birthday on 17th August and rather than celebrating in style with a champagne filled party with all her friends and family, Kirsty has decided that she would rather run 40 miles in aid of Knife Crime Awareness.

In March 2001, and at the tender age of just 21, Colin McGinty was on his way home from a night out when he was stabbed in a frenzied knife attack that Merseyside Police confirmed as a terrible case of mistaken identity. Despite emergency surgery on 15 separate stab wounds, doctors could not save Colin.

Along her running journey, Kirsty became friends with her colleague Laura Hughes, sister of Colin McGinty. Laura, with her siblings had formed a mixed ability running team in Colin’s memory to help raise awareness of the long-term traumatic effects of knife crime. Every person involved in the running group feels passionately about the cause and the message they want to get through to help deter people from carrying a knife.

Kirsty too is determined to help spread this message and to complete her 40-mile run to help raise funds for Bleed Control Kits. The charity wants to make the kits as readily available as defibrillators to the public so they can be easily accessed in the event of a stabbing.

Bleed Control Kits contain tourniquets, bandages and gels, that could prevent a person from bleeding to death whilst waiting for paramedics to arrive at the scene. This early intervention is crucial for victims with catastrophic injuries can die within 3 minutes of an attack if not treated immediately.

Knife crime across the UK is on the increase and fatal stabbings are such a regular occurrence these days the team fear they are becoming normalised. For every fatal stabbing that occurs, there is a family, just like Colin’s who continue to feel the long-term traumatic effects of losing a loved one in such a senseless and needless way.

I asked Kirsty how she found the time, away from her three children, husband and full-time job, to keep up with her daily running routine, support such a worthy cause and focus on the challenge ahead. “When you want to do something badly enough then you find the time. There are 24 hours in the day and it’s just 30 minutes in that day to run my 5k.”

When asked how she felt about her upcoming 40-mile challenge she said she was, “nervous but excited with the anticipation of completing it”.

Kirsty is keen to let people know that anyone can take up running and set themselves challenges. She was never a fitness or running person but after her weight loss journey she found a new level of determination to give things a go and keep on trying. Now she completes her daily runs with her headphones in listening to motivational audio books to keep her focused on the challenge ahead.

“If I can take up running then anyone can!”

We wish Kirsty all the very best and we’ll be cheering her on from the side-lines. n

It may have been a while, but finally we are able to experience some kind of normality once again. But, it’s not over yet. Everyone is still working hard to ensure your visit to Preston is safe as possible, so do your bit by following the guidelines in place and getting your vaccine when eligible. Come home to Preston’s high street and enjoy your shopping spree, eating out with friends or exploring our beautiful parks safely… We have missed you! Come home to your high street safely.

THE JOYS OF AN ENGLISH SUMMER

Summer at Holden Clough is set to be a magical time with a line-up of exciting and creative events to enjoy. From artisan summer markets to children’s treasure trails, there’s something for everyone over the coming months. Whatever the weather Holden Clough is a sanctuary to discover, there’s no better place to be than Holden Clough, where you can relax, take a stroll through the grounds and enjoy a drink and something delicious from the Shepherd’s Hut or visit the Ice Cream Shop for a traditional locally made ice-cream, home-made juices or a slice of delicious cake.

The beautiful larch clad Potting Shed has everything you need to nurture your garden including trugs and trowels, secateurs and watering cans, fertilisers and fungicides, and for junior gardeners there are children’s gardening tools, den building kits and activity sets to make Tucked away in the pretty village outdoor play exciting! It’s also here where of Holden is Holden Clough – everything begins – visitors can look one of the best destination through the round viewing window in the nurseries in the region! shop and see thousands of young plants being potted up before they go off in the growing field. The Growing Field is stocked with all manner of home-grown plants potted by Holden Clough’s team of expert horticulturalists, who work tirelessly to create a stunning array of plants to introduce into the old Frame Yard, which is organised by association and is laid out in such a way that it allows visitors to select plants – from cottage garden favourites to those that maybe enjoy shady areas, as well as a range of pollinators helping attract wildlife into your garden. You will find an area within the grounds that features beautiful English roses grown by David Austin – Holden Clough is proud

to have been hand-picked to stock these, the UK’s best roses.

The new area by the beck showcases a collection of terracotta hand-thrown pots from the Pots and Pithoi company, famous for their unique high quality collection of Cretan pots. Still using an ancient 1000-year-old method, these beautiful hard-wearing pots can withstand the harsh Lancashire winters. The display of pots is located alongside Holden Beck at the bottom of the nursery – a delightful area to wander through and while you’re there, you will also spot a new addition to Holden Clough – a stunning Croft Pod showcasing just how you can create a multi-functional garden room in your outdoor space. Nestled amongst the contemporary natural planting, the pod could be a home office, craft room or gym – it can be anything you want it to be!

Events coming up at Holden Clough include a Strawberry Treasure Trail for little ones in July, while in August watch out for a Children’s Cut Flower Hunt – both with the reward of a delicious homemade biscuit along with a plant for them to take home, grow and nurture. n

Holden Clough Nursery Holden, Bolton-by-Bowland BB7 4PF 01200 447615 holdencloughnursery.com

This summer also sees a stunning line-up of events at Holden Clough:

17th July 10am – 12pm: Children’s Printmaking Workshop with Aire Studio £18 21st-25th July Tatton Park Flower Show – Holden Clough’s opportunity to win another medal! 22nd July 10.30am – 12.30pm: Macrame Plant Hanger Workshop £50 22nd July 6pm – 8pm: Mindful Drawing with Kinswoman £30 31st July 10am – 12pm: Flora and Fauna Lino Mono Printing with Aire Studio £30 4th August 10.30am – 12pm: The Cottage Garden with John Foley £30 6th August 10am – 12pm: Beastie & Botanical Workshop for Children with Aire Studio £18 7th August 10.30am – 12pm: Flower Crowns with Kinswoman £40 8th August 10am – 12pm: Plantable Paper Origami Workshop with Aire Studio £30 10th August 9.30am – 4.30pm: The Art of Wire Sculpting £120 including lunch 11th August 10.30am – 12.30pm: Flower Arranging and a Conversation about Crocosmia with Alli and John £30 13th August 10.30am – 12pm: Adults and Children Pot Painting with Kinswoman £25/£15 20th-22nd August 9am – 5pm: Summer Market ‘Dahlia’ Handpicked artisan stallholders from the North

25th August 10.30am – 12.30pm: Summer Drinks with Head Chef Radek £40

Preston will soon have its own Wallace & Gromit bench in celebration of the animated duo’s Preston-born, Academy Award®-winning creator Nick Park. The bronze bench, based on the pair as they appeared in The Wrong Trousers, will be installed outside Preston Markets later this year allowing visitors to have their picture taken with life-size sculptures of two of film’s most famous characters

The project has the backing of Aardman, the Bristol-based studio behind the hugely successful Wallace & Gromit film franchise and in which Nick Park has been a leading light since 1985.

The bench is being funded from a pot of £1million in initial funding Preston received from the government’s national Towns Fund initiative for the Pop-Up projects which aim to encourage visitors back into the city after the pandemic, driving footfall and supporting businesses. The city received a total of £20.9m from the Towns Fund in March to support its wider Harris Quarter Investment Programme.

Commenting on the sculpture, Nick Park, said: “It is such a great honour for me, as a proud Prestonian, to see my characters Wallace and Gromit cast in bronze and given pride of place in my hometown.”

John Chesworth, chair of the Preston Partnership and the Preston Towns Fund Board, said: “Nick is one of our most famous living Prestonians and it’s great that we can celebrate his achievements with this new sculpture.

“Wallace & Gromit are familiar to millions and the films are hugely popular with all age groups. We very much look forward to welcoming the duo to Preston and to inviting people to come into the city centre to visit them.

“Together with our other Pop-Up attractions, the sculpture has the potential to attract visitors to the city from Preston and beyond. It will be a focal point for many generations to come.”

Designed by Nick Park and the team at Aardman in consultation with local sculptor Peter Hodgkinson, the bench is currently being produced at the Castle Fine Arts Foundry in Wales.

A planning application for the bench has been submitted to Preston City Council and it is hoped the bench could be installed in August this year.

Nick Park was born in Preston, he grew up in Penwortham before later moving to Walmer Bridge. He began his studies at Preston College, where the library is named after him, before going on to study Communication Art at Sheffield Polytechnic and then focus on animation at the National Film and Television School. Altogether Nick has won four Academy Awards® and six BAFTAs® among many other film and television awards. n

For Dr Arif Aslam of Discover Laser Medical Skin Clinic, every day is about cancer awareness and cure

Highly-regarded Consultant Dermatologist, Dr Arif Aslam, has made the prevention and treatment of skin cancer his life’s work. His dedication and passion have resulted in him working internationally due to the high demand for his specialist surgical skills. Now, he’s brought his unique skill-set home to the people of Lancashire. Arif is a double fellowship-trained Mohs Micrographic Surgeon. One of only 14 UKbased members of the prestigious American College of Mohs Surgery. Mohs surgery is considered the gold standard for treating common types of skin cancer. Done in stages, including immediate microscopic review while the patient waits, all cancerous cells are removed and healthy tissue is left untouched. All while leaving the smallest possible scar. Mohs surgery has the lowest cancer recurrence rates and highest cure rates - up to 99% for primary lesions and 98% for reoccurring lesions unsuccessfully treated by other methods. It also has the best cosmetic results of any skin cancer treatment. “It’s been amazing doing high volume Mohs surgery in New Zealand, Australia and Canada where they have the highest incidence of skin cancer, but I always wanted to return to my home town of Burnley and set up my own surgical practice for the people of Lancashire,” says Arif. “My friend and colleague Dr Miguel Montero, a highly-regarded skin specialist, heard I was back and asked me to consider joining his team. I jumped at the opportunity. What better place than Miguel’s beautiful Medical Skin Clinic, located privately within Crow Wood Leisure, to fulfil my ambition of having a local clinic offering Mohs and advanced dermatology services.” Dr Montero commented: “I’ve diagnosed and treated non-cancerous lesions for many years in my clinic and in the NHS.

“Patients with more serious abnormalities previously required a referral to a specialist dermatologist, which can be a lengthy and worrying process. So, when I heard Arif was returning to the UK and looking to set up his own practice, I was straight on the phone,” says Miguel.

“Lesion removal is difficult to obtain via the NHS, especially in Lancashire and Cumbria. Even if you get to see your GP, there are few with a dermatology speciality. Sadly, some serious cases get missed or caught too late. “With Arif on board, we can help more people, giving them safe, fast and effective private dermatology treatment that eliminates unnecessary wait times and worry.”

“Miguel and his wife Gill, who is Clinic

Director, have thoroughly spoiled me,” Arif says with his trademark warm and friendly smile. “I have an excellent purpose-designed theatre room and lab within their clinic, where I carry out my weekly Mohs clinics. “Because it involves a special multi-step process, Mohs surgery is slightly more expensive but more cost-effective than other skin cancer treatments. Health insurance plans also cover it. For patients seeking a traditional approach, I also remove noncancerous and cancerous skin lesions using long-established surgical methods.” Skin cancer prevention and treatment are very much at the top of Dr Aslam’s agenda. He encourages everyone to keep on top of their skin health and to have an annual skin and mole check as early detection leads to a better outcome. ■

for £200, by calling Discover Laser’s friendly team on 01282 420886

DISCOVER LASER, CROW WOOD ROYLE LANE, BURNLEY BB12 0RT