Controversial Canadian Breast Cancer

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A Canadian charity called Rethink Breast Cancer, a serious national outfit that lists some of the country's top oncologists on its advisory council, is looking for new ways to spread awareness of the disease to a younger generation.

It says it uses a "bold, enterprising and entrepreneurial approach" to spread the word among younger men and women instead of just handing out brochures that nobody reads.

The result: A sexy video that's eye-catching, to be sure, but that has also stirred controversy in some quarters.

Ronnie Biggs granted prison release: Free to die in the bosom of his family

pa.press.net

Great Train Robber Ronnie Biggs has been granted release from his prison sentence on compassionate grounds. The authorities have eventually agreed to free him to die in the company of his family and friends.

His family's last wishes are that he is able to attend his 80th birthday celebrations and finally spend time with his friends and family, as a free man. To finally cast of his mantle as a 'danger to society' before he casts off his inimitable mortal spirit. We wish him the best of luck and a more extended life!

Ronnie Biggs's share of the £2M takings is slight indeed, in comparison to the recent revelations about the loss of funds by merchant bankers and politicians alike, allegedly.

Justice Secretary Jack Straw said the decision was based on medical evidence that Biggs's condition had deteriorated and he was not expected to recover. If there was any indication at all of him recovering, he would remain incarcerated.

Pneumonia
Biggs, who turns 80 this weekend, is severely ill in hospital with pneumonia and doctors have said there is "not much hope".

80th Birhday on Saturday
Judy Totton, a spokeswoman for Michael Biggs, said: "He is absolutely delighted and he hopes that his father will survive long enough to see his 80th birthday on Saturday."So do we all. The loss of a father, is a pivotal moment in a son's life and its psychological impact is not to be understated.

Vengeance versus Justice
Last month the Justice Secretary rejected Biggs's application for parole on the grounds that the robber was "wholly unrepentant" about his crimes. Unfortunately, this smacked more of vengeance than justice and when it was revealed that Ronnie Biggs was already under a death sentence, Jack Straw changed his decision.

Different Considerations
Today's decision, although belated and begrudged, was finally based on more humanitarian and compassionate emotions. 'His release was based on "different considerations" than his incarceration', Mr Straw said.

John Donne Quote
More than ever we understand John Donne's timeless utterance that;

• "Each man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in Mankind' and 'Send not to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee."

Sir Ranulph, 65, scales Everest: Now let's Talk Ageism!

On Top of The World!
Third time lucky: Sir Ranulph Fiennes becomes the oldest Briton to conquer Everest. A slap in the face of ageism and an example of the enduring spirit all to rarely seen these days. Picture: PA

After suffering a heart attack and undergoing triple bypass surgery, the younger generation and powers behind commercialism and consumerism, would tell you to call it time. Sit down, relax and wait for death. No way!

Yesterday 65-year-old Sir Ranulph Fiennes proved that age is no barrier to achieving challenging ambitions, when he conquered Mount Everest.The veteran explorer reached the summit of the world's highest mountain on his third attempt.He became the oldest Briton to stand at the top of the world. When he arrived at the summit of the Himalayan giant just before 1am yesterday , he also became the first man to cross the north and south poles and make it to the top of Everest.

Speaking by radio from the summit, Sir Ranulph said: "We came to the summit as dawn broke. We're very, very cold. "This is the closest you can get to the moon by walking." Well, if anyone could walk to the Moon, Ranulph Fiennes is the most likely candidate.

Sir Ranulph began his bid to scale Everest in April but kept his expedition low-key after the failure of his previous attempts in 2005 and last year.During his 2005 attempt on Everest, he had a heart attack at 8,500 metres and last year was forced to turn back less than 1,500ft from the summit, after suffering from exhaustion.

After his second attempt, he said: "I won't be returning to Everest. Last time, I had a heart attack, this time weather scuppered my chances. Any third attempt would be bad luck."However, he changed his mind because he wanted to help raise funds for sufferers of cancer, a disease which claimed the life of his beloved wife Ginny in 2004.

His sister and mother also died of cancer.Sir Ranulph used his unique broadcast opportunity from the summit of Everest to add: "I urge everyone who followed my attempt last year to give generously to Marie Curie, so that we can at last achieve our £3 million target to support its pioneering work in end-of-life care."

Sir Ranulph, often described as the world's greatest explorer has demonstrated his indomitable spirit on previous occasions by running seven marathons in seven consecutive days on seven continents – just four months after his triple heart bypass in 2003.

I had the great honour of meeting Ranulph Fiennes in Dundee at a fund-raiser for the Discovery restoration. He has a staggering list of accomplishments and is a magnificent example of a public figure that the younger generation should be looking up to, instead of the superficial and transient 'personalities' that fill the pages of the tabloids.