WalkWell scheme helps man change his life

A MAN has changed his health and lifestyle by getting involved in the local walking group WalkWell.

Neil Doore, 43, from the East Marsh in Grimsby says the scheme has changed his outlook on his health and life.

In 2005 Neil suffered from a heart attack and was written off from work on medical grounds. Now thanks to WalkWell he has gained a new lease of life walking three times a week with the Health Walk Scheme.

North East Linconshire Council health promotion specialist, Steven Markham, said: “Neil is a shining example of what our scheme is all about. We have six health walks of between 30 to 60 minutes taking place each and every week all over North East Lincolnshire.

“Neil suffered a heart attack and was referred to join our scheme by his doctor. He started doing one walk a week and built up to walking three or more times a week with us. He then enjoyed the walks so much that he wanted to be a health walk leader himself.

Neil said: “I wanted to give something back to the scheme that has helped me so much. Since joining the health walks my health has improved no end and I wanted to be a part of the scheme to help people like me.”

The scheme is based on the national Walking the way to Health Initiative (WHI) and aims to improve people’s health by encouraging them to be more physically active.

The group walks all start and finish from community locations and are led by specially trained volunteer health walk leaders. Each walk ends with an optional social gathering.

Dr Tony Hill, director of public health said: “Increasing the amount of activity people do is really important. More physical activity is important for tackling heart disease, mental health problems, diabetes, stroke and many others.

“For general health benefit, adults should achieve a total of at least 30 minutes a day of moderate intensity physical activity on five or more days a week. We know that many people in North East Lincolnshire don't manage this but with increasing levels of obesity and coronary heart disease this is becoming more and more important.

“Many people are put off from doing more activity because they think this means going to the gym or playing team sports. Walking is an excellent activity for improving health; it is free of charge and doesn’t require any special equipment making it accessible for all. We hope people will use the scheme as an opportunity to have fun as well as doing something good for their health.”

Steven added: “The walks take place at six locations each and every week, all year round. At your first walk you’ll be asked a few short questions about your current health status and then you will be off enjoying the surroundings. So just turn up and join in. All of our walkers find it great fun and make new friends as well as getting healthy.”

Group led, 30 to 60 minute health walks are taking place on a weekly basis, from the following locations:

• Monday at 11am, Macaulay Area Action Group, Haycroft Street, Grimsby, DN31 2EE
• Monday at 2.30pm, Cleethorpes Leisure Centre, Kingsway, Cleethorpes, DN35 0BY
• Tuesday at 10am, Church of St. Michaels, Great Coates Road, Grimsby, DN34 4ND
• Wednesday at 2.30pm, Cleethorpes Leisure Centre, Kingsway, Cleethorpes, DN35 0BY
• Thursday at 1.15pm, Immingham Sports Centre, Washdyke Lane, Immingham, DN40 2SL
• Friday at 10am, Second Avenue Resource Centre, Second Avenue, Grimsby, DN33 1NU

For more information about the walks or about becoming a volunteer health walk leader please contact WalkWell on 01472 625500, Steven.Markham@nelctp.nhs.uk or go to www.HeartWell.org.uk