How The Foundation of Light is keeping Parkinson’s community social and active

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The Foundation of Light is reflecting on how their walking football sessions are making a difference for those living with Parkinson’s disease.

The official charity of Sunderland AFC hosts a weekly session with the support of Parkinson’s UK to help those living with neurological diseases to stay active and social.

Kevin Ramsey, aged 54, is a long-time attendee of the walking football sessions after being diagnosed with Parkinson’s two years ago.

“When I first started coming nearly a year and a half ago, there was only two of us,” Kevin commented on the importance of the sessions.

“It’s just grown and grown, now there’s 11 or 12 of us. Before I came here, I didn’t know anybody with Parkinson’s disease, I didn’t know anything about neurological diseases.

“So it’s not just the fitness, it’s the mental side as well. Having other people who are going through the same things I’m going through really helps a lot.”

On living with Parkinson’s, Kevin added: “I was diagnosed two years ago and I probably had symptoms for four to five years before that.

“Being a typical bloke, I ignored it and thought ‘I’ll be fine’ and my symptoms got progressively worse until I went to the doctor’s.

“I went through a diagnosis period of around six or seven months, and ultimately I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.

“After the uncertainty and stress of ‘what’s wrong with me, why don’t they just tell me,’ it actually came as a bit of a relief and I thought ‘okay, this is what I’ve got, now I can learn about it and can work out a plan of action to combat it as much as I can.’”

For those with Parkinson’s, exercise is a vital component to maintaining balance, mobility and activities of daily living.

Kevin’s love of football brought him to the Foundation of Light’s neurological football sessions, and it has been a stepping stone to increasing his physical activity.

“Without being able to come here on a Tuesday, I would just sit at home, vegetate, and waste away,” he said on the impact playing walking football can have on managing symptoms.

“It’s easy to just sit on the sofa and go ‘I have a disease,’ whereas I’ve joined a gym now, I come here, I go out for walks. You’ve kind of got to force yourself to do something every day because exercise is great for the mind and the body.

“After the session, just to sit down and talk to each other, find out what we’re all up to, find out what somebody’s been struggling with over a cup of tea and a biscuit. That’s just as important to me as the fitness and playing football.

“It’s the simple things that sometimes really help.”

Another participant of the weekly sessions is 66-year-old Erika Cummings, who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in November 2022 just months before her retirement.

“There was a tremor for a good while, which I thought was down to anxiety. I think it’s a bit of both with me, but I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s,” she said.

“It doesn’t stop me, I’m very positive. Although some mornings you feel ‘I can’t be bothered’ and just the aching, the stiffness, and your head’s not in the same place, you’ve just got to be positive.”

Erika also stresses how participating both socially and physically can be vital for managing life with Parkinson’s disease, saying: “It’s as though you haven’t got Parkinson’s.

“You meet a lot of people from all different walks of life, because it doesn’t just affect a certain group of people, it can affect anybody.

“So you learn about them, their background, how they came to be diagnosed with Parkinson’s. You’re just having a chat about this, that, or the other.

“I am the only lady at the minute, although there is another one coming. That never put me off. I feel much better when I’m leaving than when I came in.”

Around 10 million people have the condition worldwide – that’s less than one percent of the total population. Most people who get Parkinson’s are over 60, but one in ten are under 50.

Extra Time Hubs with Wigan Athletic Community Trust offers Dennis a new lease of life after Parkinsons diagnosis

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For Dennis Heaton, living with Parkinson’s disease has brought a number of challenges.

But six months after becoming involved with Wigan Athletic Community Trust’s Extra Time programme, the retired welder has a new-found confidence which has seen him reach new heights by going rock climbing at the weekly session.

Running through the Wigan Athletic Supporters Project – the initiative aims to tackle social isolation amongst older people including Dennis – who reveals the positive impact it has had on his life.

“Having Parkinson’s disease has curtailed me a little bit”, he said. “It got me down a bit you know, it makes life slower and obviously more difficult and I worry about what people will think.

“But after going to my doctor I was told about the Extra Time programme by Katie – my local Community Link Worker. On my first day I was a bit nervous about meeting new people because you wonder how they’re going to react to you.

“I was made welcome straight away with a cup of tea, a biscuit, a game of dominoes and straight away I just fitted in like a glove.

“It’s really boosted my confidence; I feel a lot better and in fact I love coming. I joke with my family that on a Tuesday I’m going to my youth club.

“There’s always something to do whether that’s a game of pool, or the air hockey, I enjoy the walking football, badminton and I’ve even done rock climbing. There’s always something and there’s always somebody who’ll come and sit with you.

“I look forward to it every week and would say if anyone is thinking of coming then just come, enjoy it and give it a try and you’ll be surprised at how much it can change your life.”

Rock climbing at the session – which runs at Wigan Youth Zone every Tuesday between 1pm-3pm – is one of many activities on offer to members and for Dennis was something he was keen to have a go at.

He added: “I really enjoyed [rock climbing], I didn’t think I could do it, but I just had a go, if you don’t have a go you don’t know, do you?

“I had a go and next think I knew; I was up at the top. I flew up!”

Katie Ramsdale, the Community Link Worker for Wigan Central, who referred Dennis, says it’s wonderful to see the difference in him.

She said: “When I first met Dennis, I realised from meeting him on the first off, that he was quite socially isolated and quite low in mood.

“He had no confidence and he’d isolated himself because of his medical condition that he has. We spoke about social groups that could possibly be good for him to attend which is how he ended up attending and enjoying the Extra Time session.

“The progress he has made since then has been absolutely amazing from him not wanting to go shopping with his wife or wanting to walk the dog.

“Now six months down the line he’s got a new set of friends, he’s climbing the wall and doing loads of activities that he probably thought he was never going to have an opportunity to ever do.

“It’s been wonderful being part of that and seeing that progress.”

In January Dennis was recognised as the Trust’s Communtiy Hero as part of the English Football League Community Weekends. The nationwide celebration recognises the work of football clubs and community trusts in their local communities.

 

 

EFL Clubs and their Community Organisations to deliver nationwide Kellogg’s Football Camps

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This summer, the EFL, EFL Trust and their network Club Community Organisations have partnered with Kellogg’s to launch the Kellogg’s Football Camps.   

While Club Community Organisations have supported their local communities with holiday camps for many years, this year – teaming up with one of the UK’s most popular cereal brands, Kellogg’s – will make the summer holiday camps bigger and more exciting than ever.

Alongside football powerhouses Manchester City, Rangers and Celtic, the football camps for girls and boys aged 5-15 years will reach from Grimsby to Glasgow, and Plymouth to Peterborough, supporting parents in keeping their kids active and entertained across the nation during the school summer holidays.

Kellogg’s is giving away 30,000 free places for the camps before they kick off.

Legends of the game came together to launch Kellogg’s Football Camps at Birmingham City’s stadium, St. Andrews at Knighthead Park, with Jermaine Beckford and Michael Dawson, as well as children from local schools taking to the pitch to celebrate the launch.

“For me, football camps during school breaks were where I had the most fun, kicking the football around with your mates.

“The EFL has such an advantage being part of so many different communities up and down the country, and to have Kellogg’s on board this summer to give so many kids the same opportunity I had when I was younger is really exciting.”

Michael Dawson, former Hull City and England defender

“One of the many strengths of the EFL is that we can provide football camps for children at the heart of communities up and down the country.

“The EFL and our Clubs are excited to join Kellogg’s to continue not only creating stronger, healthier and more active communities, but also provide environments where children can forge long-lasting friendships through football.”

Debbie Cook, EFL Director of Community

“Most families will be within 15 miles of a Kellogg’s Football Camp, giving children up and down Britain an opportunity to get active this summer. Run by FA qualified coaches, the camps aim to be fun and to give girls and boys the opportunity to get onto the pitch and follow in the footsteps of their footballing heroes.”

Chris Silcock, Managing Director of Kellanova (the company that owns Kellogg’s)

Kellogg’s Football Camps sessions will take place throughout June and September. To claim a day parents can buy a promotional pack in-store, and sign their kids up at www.kelloggsfc.com

**18+. GB only. 2,500 camp places released weekly during 01/04/24 – 24/06/24. Purchase promo pack by 24/06/24 and claim by 16/08/24. Kellogg’s Football Camps session times and dates vary club to club. Visit kelloggsfc.com to claim camp space. Max 2 claims per household. Retain receipt. For further T&Cs, see promo packs and visit www.kelloggsfc.com

Remember the Rovers Visit Senior Training Ground

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Ahead of Blackburn Rovers fixture wit Ipswich Town, Blackburn Rovers Community Trust’s Remember the Rovers group made a special visit to the Senior Training Centre.

The group, which has been running since 2019, brings people living with Alzheimer’s and dementia together weekly in the Darwen End Stand at Ewood Park and discuss their memories of following Rovers over the years in a social setting.

Now regularly attended by more than 40 people each Wednesday, the group have been on a number of Football related trips including to the National Football Museum and Deepdale.

The group have also organised visits with other club’s charitable organisations such as when they linked up with a group from the Manchester United Foundation and took part in a ground tour of Old Trafford as well as having lunch and a Q&A with former United and Rovers duo David May and Wes Brown.

In addition to this, they recently went on their first ever away day together in Rovers’ recent draw with Middlesbrough and met up with Middlesbrough FC Foundation’s Team Talk group.

Last Friday 35 participants had the privilege of visiting Blackburn Rovers’ STC where they enjoyed a tour of the facilities before they watched the First Team be taken through their paces by John Eustace’s coaching staff.

The group also received an audience with Blackburn Rovers CEO Steve Waggott, and ended the visit being able to part in a Q and A with Eustace and his coaches Matt Gardiner and David Lowe.

Gordon, a Remember the Rovers participant, remarked on the visit by saying “I’ve really enjoyed the day and to come inside the (STC) building and see the facilities has been tremendous.

“Blackburn Rovers is such a big part of life, and I never miss a game so to get the opportunity to speak with John Eustace was great!”

John Eustace added “As a professional footballer or coach you are very privileged and have a huge level of responsibility to those that support the club.

“Wherever I’ve worked I’ve tried to instil the idea of being a family and the most important thing for me is the fans and the players are one, so it was great to meet the group who are a part of a fantastic organisation.”