
Halifax dad Ben Moorhouse completes Rhodes mountain climb
The money raised will go to Tommy's Rainbow Clinic in Manchester to fund research into preventing stillbirths.Mr Moorhouse's partner Gaynor Thomson gave birth to their son Apollon there in 2020.Mr Moorhouse said he managed to complete both challenges with the help of some "Yorkshire grit and determination".
He said: "It was a massive mental test, but we managed to get through both."At the moment there's a Greek heatwave so temperatures were 40C and above."There was no shade whatsoever."It was absolutely brutal."My feet were aching quite a bit last night and my knee was swollen."But compared to what some people in the world are dealing with, it's trivial."The power of love for my daughter kept me going when the going got tough."I just reminded myself why I was doing it."Mr Moorhouse is no stranger to extreme physical challenges, having completed several over the last decade. But his preparation for this task was complicated by injury, as he damaged cruciate ligaments in his right knee just nine weeks beforehand, hampering his training plans.He could not even walk in a straight line until four weeks beforehand.But despite suffering "severe cramps" in his calf on Prophet Elias Monastery Mountain, he managed to complete his 50th and final ascent just after 19:00 local time (17:00 BST) on Sunday.Mr Moorhouse, who works for a housing association, said: "I don't very often say I'm proud of myself because I'm quite humble about what I do, but I gave myself a pat on the back when I finished, because it's been a tough year with injury."
He and Miss Thomson set up the Kallipateira Moorhouse Foundation to fund the research at Tommy's Rainbow Clinic, which they said would benefit parents across the UK. The clinic offers specialist care for women who have suffered a previous stillbirth or neonatal death.Mr Moorhouse said the subject of stillbirths was often "brushed under the carpet" and that friends and neighbours of grieving parents often struggled to know how to help. "To put yourself in that person's shoes, I understand, is such a difficult thing to do," he said."But this happens every single day to parents all around the UK."You don't have to have a big conversation about what's happened, just a simple acknowledgement to say, 'I'm thinking of you, I'm here if you need anything'."Not saying something is far worse than saying something you think is wrong."
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Daily Mail
12 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Big Brother's Chanelle Hayes reveals horrific ordeal with 'dumping syndrome' after having gastric band surgery to control her weight after it fluctuated between 7 and 17st
Chanelle Hayes has revealed her horrific ordeal with 'dumping syndrome' after having gastric band surgery to control her fluctuating weight. The Big Brother star, 37, whose weight has yo-yoed between seven and 17 stone over the past four years, spoke for the first time about the side effects from overeating once a gastric band is fitted, which include being violently sick as your body rejects the excess food. In an exclusive interview, the former model said the surgery, which she had in 2020, created a 'physical barrier' to prevent her from excessive consumption but she has been left 'terrified' after falling into old habits of eating too much chocolate or pizza, triggering the unpleasant condition. 'Dumping syndrome' is described as a medical disorder where food, particularly sugary food, moves too quickly from the stomach into the small intestine and causes bloating, nausea, cramps, dizziness and a rapid heartbeat among other symptoms including being physically sick. It is often caused by gastric surgery and sufferers are advised to manage it by eating smaller more frequent meals and upping their intake of protein and fibre while limiting sugary foods. And for Chanelle the symptoms are even harder to bare because she has emetophobia, a phobia of vomit, which she says has 'terrorised' her for most of her life. The mother of three, who last year married husband Dan Bingham, told MailOnline that ahead of the couple's nuptials she dropped to an 'unhealthy' seven stone due to stress but she's now the happiest she has ever been with her body following years of battling against disordered eating. She said: 'This physical barrier stops me from eating. I physically cannot, if I eat more than the capacity of my stomach I will vomit, if I eat things that are too bad for me then I could end up with dumping syndrome, diarrhoea, vomiting, sweats, it forces you to stay on the straight and narrow. The Big Brother star, whose weight has yo-yoed between seven and 17 stone over the past four years, spoke about the side effects from overeating once a gastric band is fitted (pictured 2018) 'Don't get me wrong, I will still reach for a chocolate bar or milkshake or a slice of pizza, but I'll have more than what my stomach can fit in, and it does not end well. 'I have a huge phobia of vomit too, it's awful, it terrorises me... I can handle all the other bodily fluids, I can handle all the others from any area but not vomit, it terrifies me. 'The advice is to make sure you chew enough times whereas I can just ravage everything off the table, just shoving it in my mouth, so it's being mindful and recognising not to be on my phone while I'm eating or watching TV, just concentrate on what you're doing.' Chanelle, who rose to fame on Channel 4's Big Brother in 2007, says she has struggled with harmful eating habits and body image since she was a teenager but having a gastric band fitted, she was given the opportunity to maintain a healthy size. At her biggest, the former lads' mags model was a size 20, but after dropping to a six, she underwent several surgeries to remove excess skin plus a breast reduction and uplift, which saw her go from a G cup bra to a D. The level that her weight has fluctuated over the years has resulted in Chanelle regularly buying an entirely new wardrobe to fit her changing body including her swimwear. After being pictured wearing a slinky black bikini while on holiday last month in Tenerife, Chanelle said: 'I never ever wear the same bikini twice and I always leave them on holiday. 'I have fluctuated so much in weight over the years that I could have a bikini in one size and the following year it's two times too big or two times too small, so I wear my bikinis and then buy new ones every time I go away. At her biggest, the former lads' mags model was a size 20, but after dropping to a six, she underwent several surgeries to remove excess skin plus a breast reduction and uplift 'I have to shop at Asda for my clothes, for vest tops and pyjamas because otherwise I would have thrown away a fortune. 'Luckily, it's stable now since I had my gastric sleeve but before it was just up, down, shake it all around, it was ridiculous. What can you do? There's no point in spending loads and loads of money on a wardrobe you might not fit into in six months' time.' Chanelle credits the gastric sleeve surgery for her newfound confidence but admits there are still areas of her body which make her feel insecure. The procedure, which has also helped the likes of Vanessa Feltz and James Argent, reduces the size of the stomach by 70-85 per cent to restrict food intake, which helped Chanelle to gain back control. But once she dramatically lost the weight, she was left with excess, saggy skin, causing further distress. She said: 'With my sleeve, they take about 70 per cent of your stomach out and leave you with, instead of it being like a round poach, it is more like a sausage shape, it's massively decreased compared to a normal stomach, which means that I can't eat or drink as much. 'It's perfect for me because it's always been such a psychological thing, I automatically reach for anything. It's been good to have that physical barrier there and from that I lost a lot of weight quite quickly. 'My breasts were droopy, my stomach was, well in fact, my stomach was ripped to bits. 'Half of my abs were on one side, and the other half were on the other but that was because of pregnancy. After two breast surgeries, multiple rounds of liposuction, and several procedures to tighten her loose skin, Chanelle vows she is finally done with going under the knife 'When they did my skin removal, they put my muscles back together to help strengthen my core, so I've had that done as well.' After two breast surgeries, multiple rounds of liposuction, and several procedures to tighten her loose skin, Chanelle vows she is finally done with going under the knife. She said: 'On a regular day, I am feeling great, I am so happy that I had the sleeve done and then I had some skin removal surgery after that, and my breast implants changed. 'Although I feel much more confident I would still like my arms to be tighter, but I don't want to have the surgery. 'For me, I would rather feel 90 per cent with my body and not undergo another operation. There is always room for improvement but who looks in the mirror and thinks they're perfect.' Chanelle, who famously modelled her image on Victoria Beckham, explained her complex relationship with food is triggered by how she feels in her everyday life, which was emphasised in the weeks leading up to her wedding last year. In July 2024, Chanelle married accountant Dan in a ceremony attended by the star's two children, a 15-year-old son she shares with ex-footballer Matthew Bates, and Frankie, seven, from her relationship with PE teacher Ryan Oates. She's also now a stepmother to Dan's daughter Amelia, 17, and the family lives together in Yorkshire, where Chanelle recently trained as a nurse. Chanelle said: 'I have always been an emotional eater so when I was celebrating, I would go out for dinner, when I was commiserating, I would eat, if I was upset, happy, it's always been a thing... it didn't even just develop; it has always been there for me. 'At my lightest, I got really stressed last year before the wedding and I went down to seven stone, which was horrific. I looked ill. Now I am back up at about 50kg, which is around eight or nine stone. I was 17.8 stone during the Covid years, so I have lost a lot altogether.' As an increasing number of celebrities including Oprah Winfrey and Amy Schumer have admitted to taking Ozempic, has Chanelle ever tried the weight-loss drug to achieve her body goals? She said: 'I wouldn't be illegible try to Ozempic because of my BMI, I wouldn't be prescribed it, but I am all for people doing whatever makes them feel healthier. 'My husband for example, we are working with a company, and he's been doing the Mounjaro injections, and he's lost three stone, and he feels and looks amazing, he has cardiac issues, and it's made him much healthier overall including his heart. I am really behind it but it's individual to every patient.' And after growing up fixated by Victoria and aspiring to have a figure which resembled the WAG's slim frame and previously surgically enhanced breasts, Chantelle is even more concerned for today's generation of Instagram and TikTok loving youngsters, saying there's no escape from the pressures of having to conform to beauty body standards. She added: 'I've had these feelings since I was a teenager and more so when I left high school and started college. The magazines were all circling normal and healthy-looking women and it made me think if Kate Moss can't have cellulite, then how can I? Now that is amplified, everywhere you look. 'I have experienced trolling, God yes, but I don't read the comments anymore. I live in my own world and everyone's always going to have an opinion. It doesn't matter if there's 100 positive comments, if you see one negative, it's so easy to stick onto that. I would advise people to not look. It's just so much harder now because everything is online and bleeping through to their phones. The girls on Love Island get picked to shreds.'

Leader Live
12 hours ago
- Leader Live
Wrexham club to host fundraiser for dad of nine with MND
Ben Scott, from Caia Park, was given the tragic diagnosis last month. The disease gradually affects the nerves in the brain and spinal cord, eventually taking away the ability to move, speak, eat, and breathe. However, stem cell treatment that lies in Beijing, China, could change the course of his illness. Ben and his family (Image: UGC) The cost of the treatment and travel, as well as private rehabilitative care in the UK, would be around £50,000. A GoFundMe page has raised over £8,000 so far. It can be accessed here. In an effort to boost the funds, volunteer-run amateur boxing club, Queens Park ABC is hosting a sponsored walk on Sunday, August 17. Ben and his long-term partner, Zoe Powell. (Image: UGC) Everyone is welcome to take part, with sponsorship forms and raffle tickets available at the gym located at the Queenscourt Complex in Queensway. Participants will begin at the Bridge End pub and hotel in Llangollen at 9am and finish at the Kings Mill pub in Wrexham. At 2pm, there will be a party with food and refreshments. A spokesperson from the club said: "One thing I can say about our community is that in times of crisis we all come together and help each other out. "Ben's a Queen's Park lad through and through so let's all make it a special day for him and his family." MORE CHARITY NEWS The 43-year-old is determined to keep fighting, despite being told he may have weeks, months or a couple of years to live. Ben has already lost grip in his hands and has largely lost the use of his arms. Brother-in-law Terry Powell said: "He's deteriorating very fast now so we are pretty desperate to get him there." While the treatment could not cure the disease, it could slow down its progression.


The Sun
a day ago
- The Sun
From a dog's fear of rain to a cat's frequent hairballs – your pet queries answered
HE is on a mission to help our pets . . . and is here to answer YOUR questions. Sean, who is the head vet at tailored pet food firm has helped with owners' queries for ten years. 4 4 Q) MY dog Petra refuses to go out in the rain. He's a 50kg crossbreed and loves his walks — yet as soon as the heavens open, he won't budge out the front door except to pee quickly. How can I persuade him wet walks are fun? Steve Brain, Manchester A) Maybe you can't. Every dog is different — they all have their own little quirks and eccentricities. Saying that, most can be convinced that something they previously feared or found unpleasant can be less of a big deal than they thought. Plenty of reward-based training and bribery with food may help Petra learn that rain means fun and treats. It's a well-used behavioural modification trick called counter conditioning — training your dog to associate something previously negative with something positive. If you are consistent, I bet you can make Petra do a happy rain dance. If not, don't push it. We can train behaviour, but rarely emotions. Q) ALTHOUGH I brush her every day, my cat Merlin gets terrible hairballs. World's Oldest Tortoise Jonathan Package - Joe Hollins She's a Norwegian Forest cat. Is there anything you can recommend? Kate Armstrong, Bradford A) Brushing is key but, in long haired breeds, we can't get away from the fact they are swallowing more hair than a normal coated cat. No offence to Norwegian Forest cats or their owners, but it's another example of us tinkering with our pets' genetics for the appearance of a breed we find appealing. Yet it leaves them more prone to health issues. Anyway, you can get products, usually in a tasty oral paste format, which help lubricate hairballs and have them pass out in the poop rather than build up in the stomach. Ask your vet for a recommendation based on Merlin's needs and history. Q) BOB, my lizard, has struggled to shed around the eyes. I have a big enclosure, plenty of enrichment, a humid area and maintain temperature. What else can I do? Steve Black, Doncaster A) You've left out a few bits of information. Firstly, what species of lizard? That's crucial to understanding what environmental conditions they experience in the wild. Your lizard has retained skin, so there is certainly a humidity problem and possibly incorrect temperature, too. I often recommend having a really humid damp hide box for reptiles to go into and seek out higher humidity when needed so they can shed well. Your vet can help remove retained skin. Q) WHEN we are on walks, my one-year-old rescue Labrador Barny barks at motorcycles. How can I stop him as it's stressful? I think it must be the noise. Mark Thomas, Bristol A) It sure is, and either he finds it really exciting so wants to join in with the racket or, more likely, it makes him anxious. If Barny is afraid of something, his instinct tells him to bark at it and hopefully that will fend it off. What happens when a dog barks at the postman coming to the door? The postman delivers the mail and takes off down the street. Peace and order are restored. The dog thinks they've done a great job guarding the home. Same with motorbikes — they appear, Barny barks, they whizz away. Job done! So you need to get him used to motorbikes from a distance and reward him when he doesn't bark at them any more, gradually increasing exposure over time. Star of the week HOMELESS kittens Bill and Barb survived against the odds after they got trapped next to boiling hot water pipes while hiding in a shed. The five-week-old pair became wedged in a gap which contained the pipes and wiring for a property in Truro, Cornwall. When the homeowner spotted them, he rang Cats Protection. Jasmine Nevitte from the charity's rescue team said: 'Amazingly, Barb didn't have any significant burns, but Bill burnt his bottom quite badly. 'He is now on antibiotics and needs daily bathing and close monitoring. 'But although they are shaken up, both of them are doing well – they are little stars.' WIN: £339 LAWNMOWER TO help keep grass trim for our four-legged pals, we're giving away a lawn mower worth £339, in conjunction with outdoor power equipment brand Husqvarna. The winner will also receive two adult and two child tickets to CarFest at Laverstoke Park Farm, Hants, where the brand will be showing off its animal-friendly goods from August 22 to 24. For a chance to win, send an email headed CARFEST to sundaypets@ by July 27. Check out T&Cs apply. GET SOME PUPPY LOVE ON YOGA RETREAT 4 BRITAIN is seeing a boom in yoga retreats where you can get into a downward dog with your pup. Dubbed 'Doga', dog yoga videos have had 228.9million views on TikTok. There are classes across the country, from Bude in Cornwall to London, Manchester and Edinburgh. Yoga teacher Camilla Sheeley, who runs a retreat at Down Hall Hotel in Bishop's Stortford, Essex, with her six-year-old golden working cocker spaniel Mitch, says it has become a staycation trend of 2025. She said of classes: 'They offer a fun-filled way to connect with your canine companion and are suitable for all breeds. "The humans stretch, balance, mobilise and breathe deeply, while your dog gets to join the fun, whether by chilling out beside you, mimicking your moves or (as most prefer) climbing on you or giving you plenty of enthusiastic licks. "It's a laughter-filled way to deepen your bond, move your body and create unforgettable memories. 'Mitch nails his downward dog and often balances on my knee during warrior poses. 'Our next retreat in August has already sold out because doga is now so popular. We are now arranging the next one.'