Specsavers' employee ran for North East Wales Mind

Dispensing optician at Specsavers Flint, Dawn Dale raised £650 for North East Wales Mind after completing the recent Chester Half Marathon.
Coinciding with Mental Health Awareness Week (Mat 12-18), the 13-mile run took Dawn one hour and 52 minutes, raising vital funds for the charity, which supports people living with mental health challenges across Flintshire and Wrexham.
Out of 189 runners in the over-50's category, Dawn placed 14th.
Read more: North Wales riding centre 'overwhelmed' as pledge saves them from closure
Colleagues at Specsavers Flint were there to cheer Dawn on along the route and supported her fundraising efforts in the lead-up to the race day. A store bake sale raised more than £260, helping her surpass her fundraising target of £500 weeks ahead of the event.
Having faced her own mental health challenges, Dawn says running has played a big part in her journey towards recovery following a particularly difficult period during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Read more: Flint store to launch a new concept in pre-loved fashion
She said: "Running became a real turning point for me. It's something that helps me feel grounded and gives me a sense of purpose. Taking on this half marathon felt like a way to give something back and to raise awareness that support is out there for anyone who's struggling."
Specsavers Flint's retail director, Holly Roberts, added: "We're all incredibly proud of Dawn, both for the physical feat of completing the marathon and for her courage in sharing her story.
"She's inspired our whole team and brought the store together for a cause that affects so many. We're grateful to everyone in the community who donated or came by the store to support her."

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Wales Online

2 hours ago

• Wales Online

I took Mounjaro and the results changed my life

I took Mounjaro and the results changed my life Jess always struggled to manage her weight, however a year after using the controversial Mounjaro vaccine, she has now lost 100 pounds Jessica shared the moment where she was able to travel abroad - without using a belt extender (Image: Jessica Miles ) For Jess Miles, a 37-year-old secretary from Newcastle Emlyn, weight had always been a shadow in her life. It was a battle that stretched back from her childhood and stubbornly into adulthood. "I've been overweight since I was a kid. It got worse after I had my son, nearly 16 years ago," she says. "I've tried everything - Slimming World, Weight Watchers - you name it! I'd lose a couple of stone, then binge eat, put it all back on and give up until the next time." ‌ However, the wake up call came with two gut wrenching moments: stepping on the scale and seeing 24 stone and four pounds, and the whisper of her late mother's final wish. ‌ "I lost my mum just before COVID," Jess shared. "One of the last things she ever said to me was that she wanted me to lose weight. She was a big woman too, but after getting diagnosed with diabetes, she changed everything. She went from a size 26 to a 14 - it was really amazing to see. She did it - and she wanted the same thing for me." This echoed through Jess' mind when she looked at herself last year. "Reaching 24 stone.... I cried. Honestly, I felt ashamed of myself. I thought that if I don't do something, I won't live to see my son turn 18." A year ago, Jessica weighed 24 stone and four pounds (Image: Jessica Miles ) Article continues below That's when she found Mounjaro - a weight loss option that has become increasingly familiar in the public eye - for both positive and negative reasons. Jess had started seeing the name crop up on Facebook and TikTok, the latest buzz in weight loss. "It was everywhere," she recalled. "But I didn't know anyone who had tried it. Back then it was so new, so I was very apprehensive about it." It wasn't just the unknown that made her hesitate. It was the cost - upwards of £250 a month. "I kept putting it off, thinking 'I can't afford this'. But one day I just thought, b****r it! Something has to change and nothing else has worked!" ‌ Armed with this sudden burst of determination, she booked a consultation with Iechyd Teifi Health, a private clinic. On July 4, 2024, she walked in, shaking hands with the consultant with a pounding heart: "I actually said out loud, 'I don't know what I'm doing here.' I was so incredibly nervous." Jess was honest from the start about her biggest worry: the side effects. "The list was terrifying," she admits. "I have read that there are possible cases of thyroid cancer, liver and kidney issues.... not to mention the more common stuff like nausea or constipation." These concerns weren't unfounded. The NHS website notes, "Common side effects, include: ‌ Feeling sick Indigestion Constipation Diarrhoea "There can be some more serious side effects, such as low blood sugar, gallstones and inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis)." Fortunately, Jess had no underlying health conditions that would have put her at severe risk with the treatment. Through further discussion with the doctors at her workplace, Jess was given the green light to proceed - with agreement to have regular blood tests to keep everything in check. ‌ From the moment she took her first injection, almost a year ago, Jess says something shifted. "I had my first injection the day of my consultation. That night, I remember sitting down to eat and I just... couldn't," she said. "There was a full plate of food in front of me, and I managed about a quarter of it. I physically couldn't eat more. It was shocking. Normally I'd eat massive portions without a second thought." That initial shock was quickly followed by nausea, a side effect that lingered for the first few weeks and continues to take hold. "I wasn't used to it in the beginning. I felt sick a lot, especially the first weekend. I barely ate anything," Jess says. "But weirdly, I sort of needed that reset. It forced me to stop and think about what I was putting in my body." ‌ That thought struck after a late night stop at her local chippy. "I had a portion of chips and my gosh was I ill that night. It must have been all the grease and fat... From that point on, I realised I had to actually change what I eat." Jess didn't give up all her favourite foods - she didn't need to. But her relationship with them has changed. "Chocolate used to be my downfall. I used to be able to eat a whole bar of Galaxy in one sitting. Now? A square or two and I am genuinely satisfied." Jessica shared that she had always struggled with her weight but since taking the injection has seen an incredible difference (Image: Jessica Miles ) ‌ Her drastic change in appetite has also impacted her daily routine. "I don't eat breakfast now. A coffee keeps me going until about half ten and then I'll have a small portion of fruit before lunch. If I have a proper lunch, sometimes I don't have supper. I have cut down on all my snacking. The injection has changed everything." And yet in those early months, people didn't believe it would last. "I think a lot of my family and friends thought I'd give up like I always had before, and I don't blame them! I had a history of starting strong and then slipping back into old habits. "But this time was different. They started to take notice when I hit that two-stone mark. That's when they realised I was serious." Stay informed on the latest health news by signing up to our newsletter here ‌ Jess' biggest cheerleader wasn't around to see it, but Jess knows that her mother is with her in spirit. "Honestly, she remains my biggest motivator, through all the tough moments. I know my mother is looking down on me and is proud of what I have achieved!" Week by week, stone by stone, the weight has come off. "I weigh myself every morning before work. I go in and tell the girls, 'I lost three pounds!' and they're just as excited as I am. Everyone has just been so amazing and supportive." For Jess, her biggest milestone came during a shopping trip. "I didn't really want to go clothes shopping because of how much my weight was fluctuating, but it got to the point where I was looking stupid going to work because of how oversized my normal clothes were. ‌ "I remember on that trip, picking up a t-shirt in New Look in my usual size 24, without thinking - it drowned me. So I grabbed a size 18 - still too big. I ended up buying a size 16. I hadn't been that size since school." She stood in front of the store, holding the old size against her body - gobsmacked. "I nearly cried. It wasn't about the clothes. It was seeing for the first time how far I come. No matter how much I look in the mirror, I can't register the changes, but in that moment it became undeniable." Now 49 weeks in, Jess has lost seven stone and two pounds - exactly 100 pounds. ‌ Jessica said that her friends and family can't get over the difference Mounjaro has made (Image: Jessica Miles ) "I still can't believe it," she says. "That weight is basically equal to a size of a small child.... it's crazy! It blows my mind." Beyond the physical changes, there has also been a change in mindset. "A small part of me used to dread weekends. I've got a little balloon business on the side, and I'd find myself sweating, exhausted putting party displays up. But I now find myself with this new lease of energy that makes me get up and want to do it." ‌ That renewed energy carried through to every part of her life - even travelling, something that once brought discomfort and embarrassment. "We went to Mallorca last year and to get on that plane and not need a belt extender? Oh my god, that was the best day of my life!" Those kind of moments - picking up a smaller size, getting through the weekend without feeling breathless, not using a belt extender - have defined Jess' year. She is now a comfortable size 18, with aspirations of reaching a size 16. "I'd say lose another two stone and I am happy. I am now preparing for my final injection - I will be stopping after this month. With the £250 a month I have been spending, I plan on putting it towards going to the gym and swimming to tone up! ‌ "I am so proud. I have honestly never been happier and that's really why I am sharing my story. I have seen so much bad conversation surround this injection and people who are on it are too embarrassed to even talk about it - but I am living proof of it working. "If you have no underlying health conditions - and I say this in big, bold, capital letters - then I would 100% advise anyone to take it. The impact it has had on me has been out of this world." There is a slight sting that this injection may become readily available over the counter after a short consultation - at the cost of an NHS prescription. The possibility was difficult pill for Jess to swallow, she confessed. ‌ "I was heartbroken," she says frankly. "One of the girls in work told me and I was swearing, ranting and raving. People are going to be able to walk into a doctors and get it for free when I've spent thousands. "That did hit me quite hard." Still, she understands the benefits of wider access - especially when done safely and with the right medical support. "I know it's safer through the NHS, because they have your full medical history. That's what really matters - making sure it's done properly." ‌ And for Jess, peace of mind was worth every penny. "I know I could've gotten it cheaper online, but I didn't trust it. I wanted to be supported and monitored. I felt safe doing through the clinic and I don't regret that." As Jess prepares to step into the next phase of her journey - one without Mounjaro, but with motivation - she hopes her story helps others feel less alone. She's already had dozens of people reach out through her social media. "Some people message me saying I've inspired them to try it. Others are asking about the side effects. I always say the same - for me it was mainly constipation and some nausea at the start. But nothing major. The nausea only hits if you overeat, because your body just can't handle it anymore." Article continues below Her routine is different now, more mindful. Smaller meals. Higher protein. Regular movement - even if it's just walking the dogs or getting her steps in during her lunch break. Yet her message is clear: "Be honest. Don't take it if you have underlying conditions. It's not a shortcut, it's hard work - but it does work."

BBC News

a day ago

• BBC News

'I took photos of my mum's dementia decline to show our long goodbye'

A woman who recorded her mother's decline with dementia in hundreds of photos said it was "hard" to capture the moments when she began not to recognise her own Harris started taking the shots of 87-year-old Vivian Harris while she was in a care home when the Covid pandemic struck in later, she has put the images together to show people the "raw end" of dementia in an exhibition called Our Long Goodbye, which has now opened in Sale, Greater Manchester-based artist said: "It's like you're saying goodbye somebody while they're still alive". "Mum moved into a care home, and then Covid happened, and I suddenly couldn't be with her," said Ms Harris, 60.A year later she noticed her mum was was struggling with her memory. She started to take shots of her mum through windows at the care home, and then continued when lockdown lifted, taking more than 1,500 photographs."Without realising it, I had created a visual archive of our relationship with dementia and each other," she said. Each click of her camera captured the personal challenges of dementia, but also moments of love, joy and said: "A lot of it is about my mum sleeping and not recognising us, and it's hard, but I think people need to see that because of a lot of it is behind closed doors"I think let's talk about that rather than forget it's there or tuck it away."Her exhibition will also be on show in Huddersfield and Stockport before finishing in Manchester at the end of the year."There are lots of things I've chosen not to show in this exhibition which are probably the more slightly brutal end of things, just because I'm not sure what my mum would have thought about that," she said. 'Talk about it' Ms Harris has described the exhibition as focused on the idea of "anticipatory grief" and "mourning the loss of someone before they actually die".Dementia is defined by the NHS as a syndrome associated with an ongoing decline in the functioning of the brain, with many different types, including Alzheimer' include memory loss, trouble speaking and understanding, changes in mood and the way you speak, think, feel and 2014, Ms Harris she has been the lead artist with Storybox, a creative project for dementia parents and their Harris said: "I'm hoping it will help other people maybe write about it and talk about it, and other people who don't know much about dementia to start conversations about it."Each exhibition venue will have one free writing workshop with the first taking place on Saturday afternoon at Waterside in Sale."Our Long Goodbye is just one story, there are so many more about dementia and Alzheimer's," said Ms Harris. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.

Daily Mirror

2 days ago

• Daily Mirror

Huge surge in blood donations as NHS faces Red Alert and dangerously low stocks

Mirror appeal sparks 100,000 blood donations to stop routine operations having to be cancelled due to NHS shortages More than 100,000 appointments to give blood were booked in the week after the Mirror spearheaded an urgent appeal for donations. Our front page last week revealed a million people need to give blood to avoid a first ever Red Alert as the NHS struggles with dangerously low stocks. NHS Blood and Transplant said it is going through its worst ever shortage and around 200,000 more donors are needed in England to stabilise blood supply. Routine transfusions for cancer patients and women after childbirth which aid recovery are among those which may be halted if a Red Alert is declared. ‌ ‌ In the week after the appeal over 29,000 people registered as new blood donors and over 100,000 appointments were booked. Gerry Gogarty, Director of Blood Supply, said: "We are extremely grateful to the support of the Daily Mirror which played a significant part in generating this response from so many thousands of people across the country. 'We are so grateful for the response we have seen from new and existing donors across the country over this past week. Over 29,000 new donors registered and 100,000 booked appointments is an incredible response. 'However, with 50,000 appointments in need of filling each week, we urge people not to lose this momentum. As we head into the summer, we still have many appointments available to book – with 50,000 donor centre appointments still available over the next six weeks.' A Red Alert would mean less than one day's blood stocks are available and must be prioritised for immediately life threatening cases. The NHS aims to have six days' stock at any one time but currently has around three days' supply. ‌ It comes after the Mirror launched the Give a Pint, Save a Life campaign to help blood stocks recover after the Covid-19 pandemic amid ongoing shortages. One donation can save up to three lives. The NHS remains in its longest ever Amber Alert for low blood stocks which was declared last July. Red Alert which would mean demand far exceeds capacity, threatening public safety and causing widespread surgery postponements. Donations have been falling in part due to changing habits as more people work from home since the pandemic. Most available donation slots are at larger town and city centres. ‌ Of the 29,000 people who registered last week, 1,000 were from a Black heritage background. This is crucial because sickle cell disease is the country's fastest growing inherited blood disorder and it disproportionately affects Black African and Black Caribbean communities. Around 250 babies a year are born with the condition in the UK over 13,000 sickle cell patients currently rely on regular blood transfusions. The best matched blood will often come from donors of the same ethnicity. The NHS needs around 250 donations per day from Black heritage donors in order to meet current need and demand continues to grow. ‌ Mr Gogarty said: 'While we have seen a great response to our calls for more Black heritage donors to sign up to become blood donors, there remains an urgent need for more to register and give, as the demand for blood continues to grow.' Sickle cell disease is when red blood cells are sickle shaped rather than circular. This leads to agonising blockages that damage organs and can lead to blindness or a fatal stroke. These sickle cell 'crises' are so painful that more severely affected patients can be prescribed morphine - more typically given during end of life care - just to get them through the day. ‌ NHS Blood and Transplant needs over 17,000 regular donors of Black heritage to help meet growing demand for sickle cell patients. More than half of donors of Black heritage are likely to have the Ro blood type, compared with just 2.4% of other ethnicities. Aliya Gladyng from Sydenham, relies on regular six-weekly blood transfusions to help manage her sickle cell disease. She said: 'As an exchange patient, I receive blood transfusions every six weeks. Each time, I have eight units taken out of my body and eight more units of donated blood put back in. This means I need around 70 bags of blood every year. Please donate blood. You really have no idea how much it helps people like me.' The NHS needs over 5,000 blood donations every day - or around 1.8 million a year in England. This requires around one million donors who regularly donate to help maintain a reliable blood supply. Mr Gogarty added: 'We very much hope that people who have registered, booked or donated for the first time over this past week, will become regular donors to help stabilise blood stocks and more people will continue to keep coming forward to help us save more lives in the future.' To register as a blood donor with the NHS you can sign up online through the NHS Give Blood website or by downloading the NHS Give Blood app. You can also sign up by calling 0300 123 23 23. Once registered, you can book your appointment online, through the app or by calling.