Jacinta Walpole Gusty Challenge Interview

Jacinta Walpole Gusty Challenge Interview

Children across Australia are being encouraged to eat fresh fruit and vegetables in a bid to raise funds for cancer research through the national launch of the Gusty Challenge.

Now in its third year, the Gutsy Challenge encourages children to eat more fruit and vegetables whilst raising money for Gastro-Intestinal (GI) cancer research.

"With 26 Australians dying every day and over 20,000 Australians diagnosed with GI Cancer each year, GI Cancer, which occurs in the oesophagus, stomach, liver, gall bladder, pancreas or bowel, is the most common form of cancer," said Jacinta Walpole, Marketing Manager, GI Cancer Institute.

With the Gutsy Challenge expanding into high schools it is the only national healthy eating program for school children. Children are challenged to seek sponsorship to eat two fruit and four vegetables a day for one week. As they fundraise they can win great prizes including movie tickets, digital cameras and Nintendo DSIs.

Gutsy Challenge Ambassador Katrina Chambers from Channel 9's 'The Block' believes that it is crucial for children to eat fruit and vegetables to assist with their growth, energy levels and overall well-being. "What we teach our children at a young age can have a positive and lasting effect on their lives."

"In Australia 500,000 primary school aged children are either overweight or obese. As they grow, obesity climbs to over 50% which can lead to ongoing health problems like gastro-intestinal (GI) cancers. Lifestyle factors, such as a diet low in fibre and high in fat, as well as reduced physical activity, also increases the risk of cancers," explained Jacinta.

The Gutsy Challenge is run by The GI Cancer Institute, a registered charity established to improve health outcomes and quality-of-life for people with Gastro-Intestinal cancers through clinical trials research.

"By conducting research in Australia, cancer patients can access new treatment methods three to five years earlier than if the research was conducted overseas, so it is vital that we raise money to fund it," concluded Jacinta.

The Gutsy Challenge runs from March until the end of November each year. To sign up for the Gutsy Challenge visit www.gutsychallenge.com

Interview with Jacinta Walpole

Question: What is the Gutsy Challenge?

Jacinta Walpole: The Gutsy Challenge is a fundraising activity that raises money for gastro intestinal cancer research.

The Gutsy Challenge involves school children (primary and high school) asking family and friends to sponsor them to eat two fruit and four vegetables everyday for one week. Funds raised go towards GI Cancer clinical trials research.

Previously the Gutsy Challenge has been limited to primary school children; however in 2012 the Challenge will be expanded to high schools as well.

Question: Did the 2011 Gutsy Challenge beat the record of 50,000 pieces of fruit and vegetables set in 2010?

Jacinta Walpole: Yes, in 2011 participants of the Gutsy Challenge consumed over 100,000 pieces of fruit and vegetables!


Question: How long has the Gutsy Challenge been running for?

Jacinta Walpole: This is its third year. It gets bigger and bigger each year!


Question: What is Gastro-intestinal (GI) cancers?

Jacinta Walpole: Gastro Intestinal cancers (GI cancers) are those of the digestive system which includes the oesophagus, stomach, liver, gall bladder, pancreas and bowel.


Question: How does eating a healthy dieting, containing fruit and vegetables help prevent Gastro-intestinal (GI) cancers?

Jacinta Walpole: There are no guarantees against disease, however eating a healthy diet with lots of fruit and vegetables can lower your risk of digestive disease.


Question: How has the Gutsy Challenge created awareness for Gastro-intestinal (GI) cancers?

Jacinta Walpole: The Gutsy Challenge gets the message out into the community through our facebook and twitter sites, community service announcements, media coverage, kid's websites and to students and their parents via their schools.


Question: Can you talk about the positive results of the Gutsy Challenge?
Jacinta Walpole: We've had many parents and teachers tell us how enthusiastic children have been about eating fruit and vegetables! The Gutsy Challenge encourages children to try new fruit and vegetables and to take an active interest in what they eat. We've also raised money for Gastro-Intestinal Cancer research which is fantastic.

Students at Mount Waverley Primary School in Victoria made a rap song about the Gutsy Challenge which they performed at school assembly, see on www.youtube.com/watch?v=LOQOKm1QtBU/.

Conducting clinical trials in Australia means that patients in Australia can access the latest treatments three to five years earlier than if the trials were conducted overseas.


Question: Why does Gastro-intestinal (GI) cancers have such a low profile, if 26 Australians die every day from gastro-intestinal cancers?

Jacinta Walpole: There are a number of reasons why GI Cancers have a low profile. Many people feel uncomfortable talking about cancers such as bowel cancer or pancreatic cancer and the market is quite crowded with established fundraising cancer campaigns.

The Gutsy Challenge is run by the GI Cancer Institute which was set up 2 years ago to raise money for cancer research for the not-for- profit organization Australian Gastro-Intestinal Trials Group (AGITG). The AGITG has been conducting cancer research and clinical trials for 20 years and have over 700 medical and research professionals working around the country on research and trials. Over the next few years, the GI Cancer Institute will be raising the profile of GI Cancers with programs like the Gutsy Challenge.


Question: What are the preventative measures Australians can take against Gastro-intestinal (GI) cancers?

Jacinta Walpole: There are no guarantees against disease, however eating a healthy diet with lots of fruit and vegetables can lower your risk of digestive disease.


Question: What is the Gutsy Challenge website?

Jacinta Walpole: To sign up for the Gutsy Challenge visit www.gutsychallenge.com


Interview by Brooke Hunter