The Let’s Get Physical! campaign went into top gear today when serviceusers and carers took part in a badminton marathon at an event in Hafal’s WOTSproject, Wrexham.
Sharon Bryan, a service user from Wrexham, said: “We wanted to do abadminton marathon because almost anyone can play and it’s really fast and fun,great for the responses and coordination. And because it’s a cardio exerciseit’s good for fitness.
“There’s a communityaspect to badminton, too: if you join a club it really improves your sociallife. There are clubs across Wales. Cost may be an issue some people as joininga club can be quite expensive, but you can always take part inpay-and-play sessions and equipment isn’t as expensive as other sports.”
At today’s eventvisitors also had the opportunity to have health checks in the Mobile HealthCentre, enjoy fruit kebabs supplied by the local CMHT and take part in adrumming session.
Hafal PracticeLeader Karen Edwards said: “We’re continuing to ‘Get Physical!’ throughoutthe summer and beyond with our new ‘WOTS this Step’ walking club. We’llbe wearing our Let’s Get Physical! pedometers to monitor how far we go.Hopefully we’ll rack up millions of steps as the club progresses!
“With thewalking club we wanted to provide an example of service users and carerscreating opportunities for physical activities themselves in a specialistmental health service. But the badminton is a perfect example of how serviceusers and carers can access general services in the community to improve theirphysical health.”