RESIDENTS of Worcestershire are being asked to do 30 minutes of sponsored exercise every day throughout June to raise money for Bowel Cancer UK.

Jamaican-born British fitness instructor Derrick Errol Evans, better known as "Mr. Motivator", is urging people to walk, skip, run, swim, do yoga or any other exercise of their choosing in aid of the charity.

He is backing the charity’s latest fund-raising challenge – Step up for 30 – which not only aims to gather vital fund but also reduce a person’s risk of developing bowel cancer.

A poll commissioned by Bowel Cancer UK reveals that 62 per cent of UK adults are not aware that a lack of regular physical activity increases the risk of bowel cancer – the nation’s second biggest cancer killer.

Mr Motivator, who is most famous for his live fitness classes on GMTV in the 1990s, said: “We all know by now that maintaining an active lifestyle should be one of our top priorities in life.

“Only by taking care of ourselves do we stand a chance of being the kind of person we strive to be on the job, at home with our loved ones, and in our communities. But that doesn’t mean it’s easy. That’s why I’m supporting Bowel Cancer UK’s Step up for 30 challenge.”

Mr Motivator has also given Bowel Cancer UK top tips to stay on track during the 30 day fitness challenge, including working out efficiently, using competitions to motivate yourself and squeezing in a short session instead of choosing nothing at all.

ITV sports broadcaster Jim Rosenthal is also supporting the campaign. He said: “As a sports presenter I love my sports, and don’t need any excuse to kick a football, run round the block or go for a long walk with my wife.

“That’s why I’m supporting Step up for 30 to encourage you to take up the challenge and do 30 mins of exercise every day – it’ll be tough but worth it, and no, watching sports on TV doesn’t count.”

Luke Squires, director of fundraising at Bowel Cancer UK, said: “Physical activity doesn’t just have to be about working out in a gym. You could jog, dance, do Pilates, cycle – the choice is up to you.

“If you’re new to regular physical activity you can still take part and get active by taking the stairs rather than the lift, doing housework, walking the dog, or getting off the bus a stop early – it’s that easy to get involved.”

Anyone who takes part in the Step up for 30 will be getting fitter, feeling healthier and raising money to support vital research and lifesaving work to help stop bowel cancer.

To sign up to the challenge visit www.bowelcanceruk.org.uk/stepupfor30

• Bowel Cancer UK is the UK’s leading bowel cancer research charity. It supports and influences research, educates patients, the public and professionals about bowel cancer and campaigns for early diagnosis and best treatment and care for all those affected.

• Bowel cancer is the fourth most common cancer in the UK and the second biggest cancer killer, affecting both men and women. Every 15 minutes in the UK someone is diagnosed with bowel cancer – that equates to 41,200 people every year.

• Symptoms of bowel cancer include bleeding from your bottom and/or blood in your poo; a change in bowel habit lasting three weeks or more; extreme tiredness for no obvious reason; unexplained weight loss; a pain or lump in your tummy.

• Most people with these symptoms don’t have bowel cancer as other health problems can cause similar symptoms. But if you have one or more of these, or if things just don’t feel right, go to see your GP.