PEOPLE in Worcestershire living with cancer are being encouraged to get out and about in the fresh air.

Macmillan Cancer Support has launched a series of organised walks across the county and throughout the UK to help people diagnosed with the condition keep active and make new friends.

The charity has set up the Walking for Health scheme to help tackle common side effects of cancer treatment including fatigue, stress and anxiety.

Pauline Janin, one of the walk leaders in Worcestershire, said keeping active could have a wide range of benefits to people fighting the disease.

“The best part of being a walk leader is helping our members with their health improvement and seeing them really enjoying getting out and about walking.

“I have also really enjoyed discovering more lovely parts of Worcestershire to explore as well and an added benefit has been losing some weight myself.

“Making new friends is just as important as the health benefits – it’s lovely to feel a sense of belonging to the group.

“After losing her husband one of the group members had been quite down, but last summer she completed the 31-mile Worcestershire Way in weekly five-mile sections.

“She was so proud of her achievement and it made a huge difference to her outlook.”

For more information call 0808 808 00 00 or visit www.walkingforhealth.org.uk.