Wow! A massive thank you to all of our brilliant supporters who have helped to make a sick little boy’s dream come true! Thanks to you, 3-year-old Charlie Dowdall will now get the chance to go to Disneyland with his family later this year once he has completed his chemotherapy.

Charlie is currently undergoing the treatment to help fight an inoperable brain tumour. He is responding well and his godparents– including Active Nation Zumba instructor Jenni – have been busy fundraising to help send the brave little boy and his family on the trip of a lifetime and had already raised more than £1,200 towards the trip.

On Sunday dozens of supporters jumped at the challenge to help Charlie and took part in a 2-hour Zumbathon at Yarborough Leisure Centre in Lincoln – with all donations and sponsorship going straight to Charlie’s fund which needed another £1,200 to reach the final target.

Jenni said: “We did it! Two hours of Zumba – we were very sweaty. I can’t believe how much support we had. From the Zumba instructors Carla and Beth; to Yarborough Leisure Centre for putting on the class for free and Awesome Discos for giving us the lights.

“We raised £435 online and collected £685 sponsorship so the event made a massive £1,120 and counting as people still have sponsor money to hand in. Incredible! I am shattered. Thank you so much to everyone who has helped. Charlie is thrilled!”

Thanks to all of the support Charlie, his big sister Summer (aged 5) and parents Ricky and Kelly, can now look forward to the trip at the end of the year.

Charlie’s mum Kelly said: “We cannot believe how generous and supportive people have been since Charlie’s diagnosis. We are stunned at how many people who do not even know us have helped with raising money to help Charlie go to Disneyland.

“The last year has been a roller coaster of emotions since Charlie’s diagnosis and even now we are just taking each day as it comes and are making the most of the here and now.

“To think that by the time Charlie hopefully finishes chemotherapy we could be going to Disneyland is just amazing. Thank you to everyone who has helped Jenni and Luke along the way. Words cannot express our gratitude.”

Donations can still be made here: www.gofundme.com/tac99c any extra money will go towards making the trip even more magical!

The post Charlie’s Off To Disneyland Thanks To Our Brilliant Supporters! appeared first on Active Nation.

After a short break, Clayton Green Sports Centre squash teams have gone from the bottom of the league to champions in their first season back!

The first team at Clayton Green Sports Centre, which is managed by Active Nation on behalf of Chorley Council, has won the North West Counties Division 5 title and promotion with two games remaining. But the brilliant news doesn’t stop there – the club entered a second team for the first time, who is expected to finish third narrowly missing out on promotion themselves.

Club captain Paul Lane said: “It’s been great seeing the enthusiasm for competitive squash at Clayton Green Sports Centre on a Thursday night against teams from all over the North West. To be champions in our first season back is simply brilliant and beyond all of our expectations.”

Back in 2010/11 the future of squash at the sports centre looked to be bleak as the team had finished bottom of the North West Counties League. Unfortunately, with the sport in decline, the team duly disbanded.

Since then Active Nation’s Gareth Austin has been on a mission promoting the sport and encouraging people to play squash. He said: “It’s been great fun promoting sport at the venue and especially watching squash go from strength to strength – with more than 60 players now regularly playing at the centre.”

All of this hard work has seen two qualified coaches join the team in partnership with England Squash. They offer sessions and coaching for youngsters wishing to start playing squash for the first time and also for adults who wish to improve their skills and fitness.

The venue has a steep history of producing promising squash players as Women’s World Champion 2014 Laura Massaro first started her squash journey here over 20 years ago. She and her brother Chris both attended coaching here as juniors.

Chris has gone on to become one of the country’s top squash coaches whilst working at the National Squash Centre for over five years as their head coach. He has since returned to Clayton Green Sports Centre as the junior squash coach.

This investment in the sport coincided with a band of volunteers – led by Paul – reforming the club as a member of Squash England. After joining forces with Active Nation and two local businesses the club re-joined at the bottom of the league and have gone from strength to strength.

Paul added: “After a long hard successful winter season, the club would like to thank Active Nation and Chorley Council, Morgan Bros from Chorley and Chris Fell Joinery for their support.”

For more information about squash at Clayton Green Sports Centre please email Gareth.Austin@activenation.org.uk. Alternatively, you can book a court at anytime during opening hours and hire equipment too. Call on 0300 0200 136 for bookings.

The post From Bottom Of The League To Squash Champs In Their First Season Back appeared first on Active Nation.

After devoting 19 years to raising her daughters, one mum has found an exciting way to get active, make friends and show that ThisGirlCan!

Jacqui Cleary has become a real adrenaline junkie without even realising it. She loves sailing at Active Nation’s Southampton Water Activities Centre, kayaking at Woodmill and skiing at Alpine Snowsports Southampton.

ThisGirlCan is an exciting campaign from Sport England to encourage women across the country to make some time to get active with amazing results. We think Jacqui is a brilliant example of what can be achieved when women decide to move more.

Jacqui said: “Having spent the last 19 years devoted to my daughters it has been lovely to find so much fun for myself again and to meet a host of new friends.

“I don’t pass up many opportunities to sail on the weekends at SWAC and love the summer evening sails to de-stress after work and watch the sunset. The exhilaration of hanging over the side on a windy day is amazing and you certainly can’t think of much else.”

SWAC programme manager Jon Kirby said: “Jacqui is a real inspiration. Her enthusiasm and energy is contagious and rubs off on us all.”

When she first started with Active Nation a couple of years ago completing the Level 1 & 2 sailing courses 48-year-old Jacqui had no idea where it might lead.

She added: “Looking back over the last couple of years I’ve completed most of the skills courses; progressed to Day Sailing in dinghies and keel boats; taken the keel boat to Cowes for the night which was a lovely experience.

“I have done a bit of racing (great! more hanging over the side). Completed my Day Skipper theory course which was challenging but very rewarding and most importantly met some wonderful friends along the way.

“Sailing, together with kayaking and skiing keeps a big smile on my face. Well! There you have it, from Mum to action girl and there’s still more to come.”

If you fancy a bit of action in your life, why not get in touch with your nearest Active Nation venue to see how we can help!

The post Jacqui Shows Us All That This Girl Can! appeared first on Active Nation.

One family of Active Nation supporters knows only too well how important the British Heart Foundation’s work is. Sue and Gavin found out even before their son was born that he had problems with his tiny heart and would need surgery. Thanks to all the charity’s vital research Devon is now a happy and lively 6-year-old boy and one of the children spearheading the Wear it. Beat it. campaign along with his big brother.

The family’s incredible story is told by Devon’s 15-year-old brother Morgan as the two play and have fun together like any siblings in the charity’s video.

Morgan said: “Mum and dad knew even before my little brother Devon was born that he would need heart surgery. They could see from the scan that there were lots of problems with his heart.

“They sat us down and told us. We were all really upset but mum and dad were positive about Devon’s future and so we were too.”

In fact Devon was born with a number of conditions including Crisscross heart, dextrocardia, pulmonary stenosis and two large holes in his heart.

Devon had his first operation when he was just 4 months old and another one when he was three.

Apart from Morgan and Devon, Sue Caines and husband Gavin have 5 other children. Ayaisha, 24, Conor, 20, Morgan’s twin Tia, Summer, 8, and Eden, 2.

The family are all regulars at Active Nation’s Yarborough Leisure Centre and have been using the venue for many years. Many of the children have been to swimming lessons and have happy memories of holding their birthday parties at the Riseholme Road centre. Gavin and other family members have also used the gym and Devon is looking forward to starting swimming lessons soon.

The family run the Navigation Support and Care Services for people living with disabilities and often bring clients to the venue for swimming and other activities. On Friday, Navigation and other businesses at the Lincoln Carlton Centre will be busy raising money for Wear it. Beat it.

Before the BHF, treatments for children born with heart problems were limited and Morgan knows it’s only thanks to the charity he is able to be a big brother to Devon.

Morgan added: “The new operations they’ve helped develop are one of the reasons Devon is alive and our family are together. That’s why, on Friday I’ll be getting my school mates to wear red to school for Wear it. Beat it. to help fund more life-saving research.”

It’s because of the charity’s lifesaving research that so many children like Devon are still alive today and thriving. Stories like the Caines’ are inspirational and are just one of the many reasons why Active Nation venues around the country will be taking part and fundraising on Friday. Come down to your nearest venue and see how you can get involved and help this brilliant charity to continue saving so many lives.

The post Heart Research Saved Devon’s Life – Help Him Say Thanks To The British Heart Foundation! appeared first on Active Nation.

Active Nation Supporter Kay Veitch says she has found a new lease of life after going to the gym as part of a GP Referral scheme. Despite 2 knee replacements, suffering from rheumatoid arthritis and borderline diabetes Kay has just completed a personal challenge of walking up 338 steps to the top of Lincoln Cathedral – something which she feels would have been impossible before!

It was her borderline diabetes that led Kay to the doctors and onto the programme that has transformed her life.

Kay said: “I was going to join the gym and was talking to the doctor about how to control the diabetes when they said they could write me a prescription for that. I wasn’t sure what they meant at first, but the 12 week programme has changed my life and it really is the best thing I could have done!”

Diabetes runs in Kay’s family, both of her parents suffered with it and so did one of her grandparents. Knowing only too well that it can lead to limb amputations and daily injections, Kay decided that she was going to take control and make the most of her referral.

Before she started Kay had already lost weight through her diet and has now lost a total of 2 and a half stone by changing her eating habits, lifestyle and exercise regime. Her blood tests are also back within the normal range.

She added: “As far as I am concerned I was given a prescription and this is a medication that you have to take as instructed. It has had a great result – the only problem is that none of my clothes fit me now!”

Part of Kay’s motivation has been the challenge to walk up 338 steep and narrow steps to the top of Lincoln Cathedral.

She added: “There is no way I could have done this before, but all of the team at Active Nation’s Yarborough Leisure Centre in Lincoln have been helping me to prepare and I am so glad that I have done it!”

As well as setting the personal challenge, Kay also collected more than £150 in sponsorship which she is donating to the Intensive Care Unit at Lincoln County Hospital in memory of Lauren Daisy. Lauren died following a car crash last year and since then her family and friends have raised more than £13,000 for the unit in a bid to show their appreciation for the ‘exceptional care’ she received at the hospital. Lauren’s mum is a nurse at Kay’s GP surgery and often takes her blood.

Kay added: “When I heard about the work the family was doing I knew that I wanted to help. And when I told my hairdresser what I was doing, she wanted to get involved too and climbed to the top of the cathedral with me.

“When I told strangers what I was doing on the walk up they also made donations – Lauren’s story has touched so many lives and thanks to the GP Referral Scheme I was able to get involved.

“Thanks to the scheme, I am now able to do things that I haven’t been able to do for a long time. I have got me back which has been missing for a couple of decades. I hope that more and more people get the same opportunity and experience that I have had.”

Many Active Nation venues run GP Referral Schemes like the one in Lincoln. For more information contact your doctor and see if there is one in your area and if you are eligible to take part.

The post GP Referral Scheme Gave Kay A New Lease Of Life And Now She Is Helping Others appeared first on Active Nation.

Fears about his weight and the links to ill health and disease shocked an Active Nation supporter into action and he has now transformed his life.

Ozzie Orlowski tipped the scales at 18 stone 1lb and knowing that he would be walking his daughter down the aisle was all the motivation he needed to eat healthy and move more.

Ozzie said: “I knew about the link between obesity and heart disease, type 2 diabetes and also your mental faculties and dementia. To be honest it scared me and knowing that exercise could help was all the inspiration I needed.”

In fact, research published this week by the University of Montreal in Canada shows that being severely obese can knock up to 8 years off your life and cause decades of ill health.

Lead researcher Professor Steven Grover said: “Our  study shows that obesity is associated with an increased risk of developing heart disease and stroke, and diabetes.

“This will, on average, dramatically reduce an individual’s life expectancy and the healthy life-years free from living with these chronic illnesses compared with people of normal weight.

“The pattern is clear. The more an individual weighs and the younger their age, the greater the effect on their health, as they have many years ahead of them during which the increased health risks associated with obesity can negatively impact their lives.”

Ozzie says he was always fit when he was younger, but admits that after leaving the army when he was 40, he was uninspired to keep active.  “For so many years when I was in the army I had to keep fit and then when I left it stopped. I got a desk job and my weight kept creeping up.

“But that all changed when I started coming to Active Nation’s Yarborough Leisure Centre in Lincoln and was given a programme to follow.”

Ozzie, who is retired and celebrated his 65th birthday this week, now comes to 2 group exercise classes every week and also does 2 workouts in the gym. He feels getting active was the best thing he ever did!

He added: “I have no problems with my joints, I’m more supple than I used to be and I think my wife enjoys me being out of the house several times a week!

“I have a granddaughter already and a grandson due in March. It helps me to think that what I am doing might help me to be around a little bit longer to see them.

“It is definitely worth the effort and a very good habit to get into. Everyone here is so friendly and helpful and I enjoy coming.”

Feeling inspired? Whether you want to lose weight or just increase your fitness levels we can help! Contact your nearest Active Nation venue today and let’s get active!

The post Ozzie Transformed His Life By Getting Active – And So Could You! appeared first on Active Nation.

A truly inspirational Active Nation Supporter has just collected a prestigious award after using exercise to help her win her own battles with breast cancer and diabetes.

Suzanne Pindred is a regular at Active Nation’s Birchwood Leisure Centre in Lincoln and first visited the centre after being diagnosed with borderline diabetes in 2010.

She is adamant that getting active to lose the 2 stone target set by her GP, set her up to be able to fight breast cancer just 2 years later.

Although she doesn’t have any of the identified inherited faulty genes linked to cancer, the disease has struck many times in Suzanne’s family.

Her dad died of liver cancer, her mum suffered from breast cancer and lung cancer, her elder sister Maureen died after suffering from breast cancer and bone cancer and her younger sister has also battled breast cancer too.

She said: “I am a big believer in being fit and healthy and because I had lost the weight I feel that I was much stronger and fitter to fight this disease.

“During my chemotherapy I stopped going to the gym and put the weight back on again. Once I felt fit enough, I returned through the GP Referral programme and have lost the weight, got fit and have made so many really good friends.

“The team at the gym are great and are able to design a programme that suits you and are on hand to offer advice whenever you need it.”

GP Exercise Referral Programmes are public health sponsored schemes for adults aged 18 plus with specific medical conditions.

Suzanne believes the programme has helped her to become virtually pill-free. She has come off strong painkillers for a back injury, stopped her HRT and has seen her high dosage of blood pressure medication reduced to the bare minimum.

Suzanne’s dedication, determination and attitude to being healthy and active have not only improved her health, but also led her to win the Active 4 Health Award at the Lincolnshire Sport Awards 2014. During the glitzy awards ceremony, Suzanne got to rub shoulders with Winter Paralympic hero Jade Etherington who also collected the Sportswoman of the Year award and the prestigious Coveris Sports Personality of the Year.

Suzanne said sitting on a table with Jade and other winners at the ceremony was a huge inspiration. She added: “It was wonderful to meet Jade and all of the other nominees – truly inspiring.

“My advice to everyone is just get moving! Do whatever it is you can – whatever you like to do. It all makes a difference.

“Bring a friend with you, drag them along! It’s so much more fun if you’ve got someone to work out with. Even if you haven’t got someone, you will always make friends at the gym and in the classes and can then arrange to meet up. Everyone has been so friendly and helpful to me.”

The 67-year-old said: “We are all living for longer and I believe that if you are healthy and active you are able to fight disease and live for a few years longer – that’s time that you can spend with your grandchildren and family! We all need to get moving!”

Birchwood Leisure Centre is just one of many Active Nation Venues that run GP Referral Programmes in association with the NHS. To see if there’s a scheme running in your area, please have a chat with your GP.

The post Keeping Active Helped Suzanne’s Fight Against Breast Cancer And Diabetes appeared first on Active Nation.

A grandmother decided to do something brilliant to mark her 80th birthday by completing her first skydive in aid of charity – something which she says was only possible because she keeps herself active!

While many of us were preparing to go trick or treating for Halloween, Erica Taylor decided that she was going to jump out of a plane to mark her 80th birthday and try to raise some money and awareness for worthy causes. After previous attempts had to be called off due to poor weather conditions, Erica found herself sat on a runway hoping for a break in the mist and cloud so that she could take the plunge.

And she wasn’t disappointed. “It really was a wonderful feeling. I never felt nervous and had total faith in the instructors at Skydive Hibaldstow in North Lincolnshire.

It really was exhilarating. But I’d like to say that it was only possible at my age because I have kept myself active.

“I like coming to my regular classes at Active Nation’s Yarborough Leisure Centre and really do believe that they have helped me to do this.

“Wanting to help others through her adrenaline fuelled jump, Erica has already raised hundreds of pounds for charity.

Her inspirational efforts not only show that age shouldn’t be a barrier to keeping active, but have also helped fund new doors at her church, raised cash and awareness about the Ebola crisis and and will also help blind and deaf children in Jerusalem through the charity Embrace.

She said: “I have always wanted to go skydiving and decided that now was the time to do it.

“No matter what age you are, it is important to keep yourself active and healthy. You don’t have to jump out of a plane like me, but whatever you do will help.

“I have had so much support from family and friends, Yarborough Leisure Centre and everyone at my church. I was aware as I was waiting to jump that so may people were praying for me and it was a huge comfort. I expected to be nervous, but all I felt was calm and was able to really enjoy the whole experience. Thank you to everyone.

“I just hope that we can help others through our fundraising. Anything that you can donate really will make a huge difference to so many people.”

If you would like to sponsor Erica before November 30th, please contact Rev Andrew Burrows at Bailgate Methodist Church in Lincoln on 01673 862486. For more information about Skydive Hibaldstow visit: http://www.skydiving.co.uk/

The post Keeping Active Helped 80-Year-Old Erica Fulfil Her Skydiving Dream appeared first on Active Nation.

Active Nation Supporter Simon Charnock gave up a few hours of his time to save a stranger’s life – and 10 days later ran the Great North Run! Simon isn’t Superman, but he is certainly a hero in our eyes – and the great thing is that so many of the people reading this story could be too!

Last year, Simon joined the Anthony Nolan bone marrow register and a few months ago he found out that he was a potential match for someone battling a form of blood cancer.

Simon, a Supporter at Active Nation’s All Seasons Leisure Centre in Chorley,  said: “Last year I registered with Anthony Nolan to be a bone marrow donor. I simply logged onto the Anthony Nolan website, clicked register, filled in some details and clicked, it took me 5 minutes. I then received a spit pack in the post, spat in it and sent it back in the pre-paid envelope and that was me on the register. I then forgot all about it.

“A few months ago I received a call to say that I was a potential match for someone who was waiting for a bone marrow transplant as they had blood cancer. I had some blood tests carried out at my local GP practice and after a few days was told I was a match and was I happy to proceed.”

Anthony Nolan organised everything, including train tickets and accommodation for both Simon and a companion and kept him informed every step of the way as to what would happen next and why.

Simon explained: “On donation day I felt a little bit nervous, but the nurses soon put me at ease, it took 4 hours for me to donate and then wait a couple of hours to check the quality of the bone marrow.

“I got a call a couple of hours later to say all was OK with the bone marrow and I could go home. It’s only then that it actually dawned on me on what I had just done and just how easy it had been.

“It was such a small price to pay to give someone the chance of life. It was really an overwhelming feeling that will stay with me forever.”

Just 10 days later, 23-year-old Simon took part in the Great North Run in aid of the MS Society. He added: “The Great North Run was amazing, brilliant atmosphere, I raised over £1,000 for The MS Society. I completed the run in 1 hour and 45 minutes, quite quick considering I donated just 10 days earlier.

“I didn’t find it any more difficult due to donating, the donation just meant I couldn’t train the 2 weeks before the run – meaning I didn’t go as quick as I aimed for.”

The Anthony Nolan bone marrow register matches incredible individuals – like Simon – who are willing to donate their blood stem cells or bone marrow to people who desperately need lifesaving transplants. Donating isn’t difficult and neither is joining the register!

Simon added: “I would encourage anyone aged 16-30 years who is fit and well to register and you may also follow in my footsteps and give someone the most wonderful gift possible… life.”

For more information about Anthony Nolan and joining the register visit: www.anthonynolan.org

The post Simon Gave A Stranger The Most Precious Gift Of All… The Chance Of Life! appeared first on Active Nation.

Active Nation Supporter Andy McErlean helped the Team GB Wheelchair Basketball team to win gold in the Invictus Games.

Andy’s teammates at the Hampshire Harriers followed the team’s progress in the basketball competition and were proud to hear the news.

Head coach Terry Marsh from the club said: “Well done to Andy and the rest of the GB wheelchair basketball team. We’re so proud of them all – they are all heroes in our eyes.”

Andy injured his back in a serious car crash while serving with the Army in Germany. Not only did he injure his back, but he also fractured his skull and was also read his last rites in hospital. Since then he has travelled around the world representing the British Ex-Services Wheelchair Sports Association (BEWSA) – competing in many sports including basketball.

When he’s not busy representing his country at international sport, Andy is a regular at Active Nation’s Chamberlayne Leisure Centre where the Hampshire Harriers train and compete.

The team is the main activity of the Hampshire Wheelchair Sports Club which encourages wheelchair users to engage in sporting activities and improve their fitness. The team plays in the GBWBA (Great Britain Wheelchair Basketball Association) national league Division 3 South.

The club was started in the early 1980s by Terry at the request of his nephew who suffered muscular dystrophy. Terry agreed to a 3 month trial and over 30 years later he is still organising the team activities. In all this he is fully supported by his wife Annette who acts as a Club secretary and table official.

In 2004 following the Paralympics in Athens a development group was started for new players seeking a sport or just an improvement in their general fitness.

Terry added: “Training with our development group is available most Sundays between 12 and 2pm and is an opportunity to try out the sport or work at finding new levels of fitness.

“Young people in education who have never played sport before find this enjoyable and if there are enough spare chairs they can play alongside their family or friends on an equal basis, probably for the first time. Equally those who have suffered an accident or illness find this sport helps them to get active again and enjoy a social setting possibly for many years to come. And it is fun!”

New players are always welcome. The club’s current age range is 10 to 55. Men and women play alongside each other. There are a few club wheelchairs available to borrow and advice can be given to those who wish to purchase their own.

A separate junior club the Hampshire Hornets was formed in 2007 which takes younger players from 7 years upwards for basketball and other games. This offers basketball training but also encourages young persons using manual wheelchairs to participate in a range of games and activities.

Terry said: “Wheelchair basketball is suitable for those who have a physical impairment due to birth, illness, accident, or conflict. As well as providing an active team sport, there are the added opportunities to improve fitness, health, rehabilitation, and weight management, plus a new social scene. This can be a lifetime sport for many who seek to get out more, being more active, and having fun.

“Everyone is welcome to come and watch our hero Andy and the rest of the Hampshire Harriers at Chamberlayne Leisure Centre on Sundays 12-3pm This year Harriers’ home games are Sunday 28th September, 5th October, 19th October and 7th December. Come and watch the exciting game of Wheelchair Basketball!”

For more information contact Terry or Annette on 02392 352824

terry.marsh@hampshireharriers.org.uk or annette.marsh@hampshireharriers.org.uk

The post Teammates Proud Of Andy’s Gold Medal Win At Invictus Games appeared first on Active Nation.