CONWY Castle will turn orange this weekend to raise awareness about osteoporosis.

Staff from the Llandudno-based North Wales Bone Unit are joining global celebrations for World Osteoporosis Day by bathing the castle in orange light, matching the official colours of the National Osteoporosis Society.

A team from the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board unit also took part in this morning’s Conwy Park Run, wearing National Osteoporosis Society T-shirts to help raise the profile of the condition.

Known as the ‘silent disease’ it’s impossible to tell if a person is a sufferer until they break a bone or have a bone density scan.

Osteoporosis can also be caused by a number of lifestyle and other factors.

According to the National Osteoporosis Society, one in five men and one in two women over the age of 50 will break a bone as a result of poor bone health.

More than 500,000 fragility fractures occur in the UK every year, the equivalent of almost one every minute.

The unit, one of six dedicated units in Wales, opened in November 2006 and supports patients from across the region living with bone conditions.

It receives referrals for the whole of North Wales and some parts of mid-Wales, a catchment area of almost 700,000 people.

Amanda Durber, Sister at the unit, said: “This will be the third year of lighting up the castle to celebrate World Osteoporosis Day.

“Landmarks are generally lit up orange to celebrate World Osteoporosis Day and raise awareness of the condition and the charity National Osteoporosis Society.

“Hopefully people will notice the castle and look to find out more about why it’s been lit up. Anything we can do to raise awareness and the profile of osteoporosis is a positive.”

The unit team have been shortlisted for the Team of the Year award in the Health Board’s upcoming Staff Achievement Awards.

Staff at the unit were shortlisted for the award, for their tireless efforts over the last year to raise the profile of osteoporosis and other bone-related illnesses.