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Mentera Celebrates Raising £17,500 for Cancer Research Wales

Mentera Celebrates Raising £17,500 for Cancer Research Wales

Mentera, a leading business support and development organisation, has raised £17,500 for Cancer Research Wales over two years of dedicated fundraising.
Cancer Research Wales is an independent Welsh charity and the only charity dedicated to funding cancer research in Wales, for Wales. The sum was raised through a diverse range of fundraising activities undertaken by Mentera staff.
The decision to extend the charity partnership for a second year was made following the brave battle of a valued team member, Elan Davies, who was undergoing treatment for breast cancer. The organisation said it was now thrilled to share that Elan has successfully completed her treatment and is in remission. It added that it was 'profoundly grateful' for the generosity and support from Elan's family, friends, and the wider community, whose contributions greatly boosted the fundraising efforts.
Elan Davies said:
'I'm incredibly grateful for the unwavering support of my colleagues at Mentera throughout my treatment journey, and I'm immensely proud and fortunate to work for an organisation that demonstrates such deep commitment to its employees and making a positive impact in the community. To see our collective efforts culminate in this remarkable total for Cancer Research Wales is truly inspiring. Now, being in remission, contributing to research that could benefit people here in Wales, facing diagnoses similar to mine, means even more to me.'
Llŷr Roberts, CEO of Mentera, said:
'We are incredibly proud of our staff's sustained dedication and fundraising efforts. To have collectively raised £17,500 for Cancer Research Wales is a testament to their commitment and generosity. This charity remains incredibly close to our hearts, and we continue to be inspired by Elan's courage, resilience, and positivity throughout her treatment. We are honoured to play a part in funding vital research, finding new treatments, and supporting those, like Elan, who are affected by cancer, ultimately contributing to a healthier Wales.'
Mentera employees raised the funds for two consecutive years. Their diverse efforts included a team of 20 members of staff, joined by Elan's husband Iwan, participating in the Cardiff Half Marathon, organising festive Christmas jumper days, hosting fun-filled bingo nights, auctions, raffles and various other initiatives.
Iwan Rhys Roberts, Communications and Marketing Manager for Cancer Research Wales, said:
'We are immensely grateful for the Mentera team's ongoing dedication and support for Cancer Research Wales. As the Welsh cancer research charity, we rely on the kindness of the people of Wales for their donations which allow us to fund the pioneering research into cancer that we support here in Wales. Mentera's contribution – an incredible £17,500, will help us to continue funding the brightest researchers, clinicians, and health professionals who are pushing the boundaries of cancer research discoveries right here in Wales for the benefit of the people of Wales.'
Mentera recognises the importance of a healthy population for a thriving Wales. By supporting Cancer Research Wales, Mentera said it goes beyond its core activities, actively contributing to the well-being of current and future generations. It added that this long-standing commitment 'perfectly aligns with Mentera's values and its vision for a healthier and more prosperous Wales'.

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In people who are susceptible, a spike in histamine and serotonin can lead to symptoms such as flushing, headaches or nasal congestion Laura Jennings 'Some of these congeners, like methanol, can be broken down into toxic substances such as formaldehyde and formic acid in the body,' says Laura. 'Thankfully, our body has enzymes that help clear these toxins out, but if you've had a lot to drink, or you're dehydrated, the system can get overwhelmed, which may contribute to the severity of a hangover.' 3. You drink red over white IF you're a red wine over white kind of a drinker then your hangover might be worse. Red wine has more of those pesky congeners than white, Laura says, adding: 'Red wine also contains more histamine and serotonin-releasing compounds than white wine or spirits like vodka. 7 Go for white wine over red- which has more chemicals that induce a hangover Credit: Alamy 'In people who are susceptible, this spike in histamine and serotonin can lead to symptoms such as flushing, headaches or nasal congestion, often mistaken for classic hangover effects.' She adds that red wine also contains more quercetin, a polyphenol (antioxidant) found in significantly higher amounts in red wine. Research in the journal Scientific Reports suggests that quercetin might interfere with alcohol metabolism, especially in people with a variant of the enzyme ALDH2 (aldehyde dehydrogenase 2). 'This enzyme helps break down acetaldehyde, a toxic byproduct of alcohol,' Laura says. 'If this process is slowed or impaired, acetaldehyde can build up, leading to more severe hangover symptoms like headache, nausea and fatigue.' 4. Your diet is filled with UPFs ULTRA-PROCESSED FOODS, such as cereals, processed meats, cakes, chocolate, crisps, ice-cream and fizzy drinks, could make your hangover worse. Laura says: 'These foods provide little in the way of protective micronutrients and can amplify inflammation and blood sugar swings, both of which can intensify hangover symptoms.' Drinking alcohol can mess with your blood sugar because it makes it harder for your body to produce glucose. Women have less body water and lower levels of alcohol dehydrogenase, an enzyme that metabolises alcohol Dr Mohammed Najjar 'This can lead to dips in blood glucose, which might explain why people feel shaky, tired or irritable after drinking,' says Laura. Drinking on an empty stomach could also make your hangover worse. 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So while you might benefit from some minor symptom relief, there's no proven supplement that can reliably prevent or cure a hangover. 7 Hangover supplement are all the rage. But there isn't a huge amount of research to say they work, so don't rely on them Credit: Getty 6. It's your medications IF you're taking medications, these could have an impact on how your body metabolises alcohol, which could make your hangover worse. 'These include some pain relievers such as acetaminophen, NSAIDs (medicines that relieve pain, reduce inflammation and bring down a high temperature, such as ibuprofen and aspirin) and some antidepressants,' says Dr Mohammed Najjar, Medical Director of Jorja Healthcare Group. Some medications require you to avoid alcohol at all costs. Dr Najjar recommends speaking to your GP if you're concerned. 7. You're a woman GENETICS do play a role in how you metabolise alcohol. Dr Najjar says: 'Although men and women tend to metabolise alcohol at approximately the same rate, women appear to have a higher rate of alcohol elimination.' This can mean women feel the effects of alcohol more strongly. 'This could be due to a number of factors such as the smaller lean body mass in women which leads to higher alcohol concentration per unit of lean body mass, and also due to the fact that women have less body water and lower levels of alcohol dehydrogenase, an enzyme that metabolises alcohol,' adds Dr Najjar. The menstrual cycle can impact how severe a hangover is. Dr Najjar says that some women notice their hangovers are worse during the luteal phase (the week before your period). 'Levels of the hormone progesterone levels increase significantly during this phase, and oestrogen levels also remain elevated,' says Dr Najjar. 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Lemon peel Adding some lemon peel to a glass of water or shaving some onto your food could help alleviate some of your hangover symptoms. Shona says: 'Lemon peel contains a substance called limonene, which helps your body to detoxify itself by removing carcinogens from the body. 'There is research that suggests lemon peel may even offer an effective solution to migraines and headaches, given that it's a great source of Vitamin C.' Grapefruit It's the substance naringin in grapefruits, which helps to protect the liver from all kinds of damage. Shona says: 'There are a lot of medicines out there that don't mix too well with grapefruit however, so consult your GP before adding too much grapefruit into your diet if you're on any prescribed medications.' Pickle juice An odd one, but pickle juice is packed with electrolytes like sodium and potassium, which Shona says are essential in a whole host of the body's vital processes. She says: 'Electrolytes help to keep us hydrated by regulating the amount of water in our cells to ensure they're able to function properly. 'If you're hungover, it's the perfect remedy.'

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