Famous cricketers in health drive

MEDICAL experts are hoping lives will be saved by checking the health of visitors to a fun day this weekend.

Famous sporting names including West Indies cricket legend Richie Richardson and Zimbabwean Henry Olonga will be among those taking part in the Suffolk Family Health Day in Woolpit on Sunday.

The event combines health awareness, sports demonstrations, music and dance.

During the day, the Lashing XI cricket team will take on an as yet unnamed home team at Woolpit Cricket Club's ground.

Those organising the event claim as well as providing a plethora of fun events for the whole family, numerous stations will be set up for people to get their general state of health checked out.

The idea behind the event, which organisers hope will attract between 5,000 and 7,000 people, is that people can enjoy themselves and catch potential problems early.

Dr Richard West, a GP in Woolpit, said there would be about 100 health professionals on hand during the event.

He said: “The idea really is to try and get an event where people who don't normally come along to get some health screening done have a really good day out and get themselves checked out.

“We will be looking at their diet and blood pressure. It is about catching things which are preventable and laying on a great family day with music, things for the kids to do. It should be great for everybody.”

Advance tickets cost a family of two adults and two children £10, adults £5, children £2, under 5s free. On the day ticket prices are: family £12, adult £6 and children £3.

Tickets are available from Waitrose in Lowestoft, Whitton and Brandon leisure centres, West Suffolk Hospital, Woolpit Cricket Club, Asda in Stowmarket, Tesco in Bury, Sudbury and Ipswich, Sainsbury's Bury store and Woolworths in Bury and Ipswich.