February is National Heart Month and the British Heart Foundation (BHF) are asking the people of Manchester to join National Wear Red Day on Friday 24 February 2012 and to follow the BEAT code for simple steps to a healthier heart.

In National Heart Month, the BHF encourages people across the UK to think about their own hearts and the hearts of those around them. The nation’s heart charity also needs people across the UK to get involved with National Wear Red Day, and raise vital funds for the charity’s life-saving work.

By wearing red and raising money, you will help the BHF to save lives through pioneering research, patient care, campaigning for change and by providing vital information.

It is a common misperception that heart disease is more common in men than women when in fact it kills 1 in 3 women, as well as 1 in 3 men and kills three times more women than breast cancer. Funds raised during National Heart Month can support the BHF to help the 2.7 million people in the UK currently living with heart disease.

A national campaign to end legal loan sharks received a boost this week with high profile support from some of Greater Manchester’s most senior political figures.

Campaigners to end legal loan sharks – payday lenders who provide short term loans with interest rates as high as 4,500% APR – were joined by several MPs from across Greater Manchester, including Manchester Central MP Tony Lloyd.

Stella Creasy, MP for Walthamstow in central London, is leading the campaign nationally and came up to support the event, which was held in Manchester this week. Stella said:

“It was great to join the MPs and councillors who have been campaigning to end legal loan sharking across Greater Manchester to raise awareness of the impact of these companies on their local communities.

“The campaign will continue until the Government acts to cap the cost of credit and so stop these lenders exploiting those struggling to make ends meet in Britain.

“I’d urge everybody in Greater Manchester worried about the activities of these companies to sign the e-petition: http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/20219”

This week Tony Lloyd signed a Book of Commitment in the House of Commons, in doing so pledging his commitment to Holocaust Memorial Day and honouring those who died during the Holocaust.

Friday January 27th marked the 67th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the Nazi concentration and extermination camp which is the site of the largest mass murder in history – and in the weeks running up to the day, the Holocaust Educational Trust placed a Book of Commitment in the House of Commons, giving MPs the chance to honour those who were persecuted and killed during their Holocaust and encouraging constituents to actively speak out against prejudice and bigotry today.

In the weeks around Holocaust Memorial Day, thousands of commemorative events will be arranged by schools, faith groups and community organisations across the country, remembering all the victims of the Holocaust and subsequent genocides. This year, people will also be encouraged to take a stand against racism and prejudice today – and to speak out against hatred wherever they encounter it.

The reception, held on 13 Decemeber 2011, raised awareness of meningitis and septicaemia. Dr Hilary Jones and Dr Nelly Ninnis from St Mary’s Hospital, Paddington, were available to speak to guests.

Tony Lloyd joined Labour colleagues, including Harriet Harman MP, Deputy Leader of the Labour Party, Yvette Cooper MP, Shadow Women and Equalities Minister to mark White Ribbon Day and show support for the White Ribbon Campaign’s work to reduce violence against women.

The White Ribbon Campaign is the largest global effort of men working to end violence against women. White Ribbon Day falls each year on 25th November, the United Nations International Day for the Eradication of Violence Against Women.

Tony Lloyd MP participated in The Big Shave Off on Saturday 15th October. Orchid, who raise awareness for the three types of male cancer; penile, testicular and prostate hosted the ‘Guinness World Record Shave Off Charity Fundraising Event’ at the Manchester Arndale Centre.

Tony said, ‘Men aren’t typically very good at talking about these things, but we should all be talking about this very important cause.’

Disabled people in the North West, along with their families and friends, took to the streets in Manchester to protest against Government cuts to disability benefits and services on 22 October 2011. Their message to the government was clear: stop these cuts.

Following the event Tony Lloyd said, ‘A huge number of angry people turned up to protest against these benefits cuts. We should protect those who are vulnerable which is why these cuts are particularly cruel.’

Tony is pictured along with local Labour teams outside the centre, protesting against the planned closure of this well used clinic.

Tony said, ‘Cutting health services to a community with some of the poorest health in the city is shocking. When Ancoats Hospital closed this community was given assurances about replacement facilities and we’re fighting to make sure that NHS Manchester honours the promises made.’

Tony is pictured here taking part in the TUC march and rally in Manchester last week. Tony said, ‘People here today are angry they want David Cameron to think again on the cuts that are putting people out of work and causing so much damage to our communities’.

Over 30,000 people took part in the march which coincided with the start of the Tory party conference.