Shropshire Council’s ‘Get Active, Feel Good’ programme celebrates relaunch after partnering with local charity Lingen Davies Cancer Fund
Shropshire Council’s public health team celebrated the relaunch of its Get Active Feel Good programme last week, thanks to funding from the Lingen Davies Cancer Fund.
Lingen Davies has pledged £240,100 to fund the programme for the next three years, ensuring that people around Shropshire, Telford and Mid-Wales are supported to feel better through their cancer treatment and beyond.
Get Active Feel Good relaunch – Lingen Davies Cancer Fund
Physical activity, at any level, is shown to improve patients’ experience of cancer treatment and can impact upon their treatment outcomes. An active lifestyle helps to overcome fatigue, anxiety and depression whilst protecting the heart, lungs and ,and has been shown to slow disease progression, improve survival and reduce the chance of recurrence and development of secondary cancers.
However, only 23% of people living with cancer are active to recommended levels. Physical activity during and after cancer treatment can lead to increased ability to function without increasing symptoms of fatigue or other adverse effects. Being active can improve both physical and psychological health throughout.
The programme is being delivered by Lifestyle Fitness Ltd, on behalf of Shropshire Council. Gareth Mapp, Managing Director of Lifestyle Fitness, said:-
“We are very excited to be working with the Lingen Davies Cancer Fund and Shropshire Council to deliver the Get Active Feel Good programme. The programme provides very important positive support for cancer patients to help them obtain the huge benefits that being physically active offers.”
Naomi Atkin, Lingen Davies’ Executive Officer, added:
“The programme has been really key in the treatment and recovery of its participants over the last six years. Shropshire Council and Lifestyle Fitness have spent six years developing this project, with support from Macmillan Cancer Support, and we are pleased to be taking over the baton to support this invaluable service. We are particularly keen to support it to expand and improve access for patients, particularly those based in rural areas for who the hospital sites are less convenient.”
Tudor Humphreys, Macmillan Partnership Manager, added:-
“’Thanks to the Get Active Feel Good programme, we have witnessed the positive impact of introducing physical activity into a patient’s care plan. Over the last six years, the programme has made a significant difference to people living with cancer in the local area, and we are pleased to have been able to fund the service alongside Shropshire Council. We would like to thank Lingen Davies for investing in this service going forward, and look forward to seeing them build on the programme’s success over the next three years.”
Lee Chapman, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for health, adult social care and housing, said:
“We are absolutely delighted to be relaunching the Get Active Feel Good programme. The programme will offer vital support to those living with cancer and after. Being more active can help reduce the side effects of cancer treatment such as fatigue, stress and anxiety. Get Active Feel Good will provide help to individuals with cancer to become more physically active.”
The project will be funded as part of the Lingen Davies 40th Anniversary Appeal, for which the charity will be raising £1.25 million in time for its 40th anniversary in June 2019. A generous legacy of £148,426 has recently been gifted to the charity, and this will be added to the appeal to kickstart funding for this project. The appeal has already raised funds for an MRI Guided Prostate Biopsy Machine, two Colorectal Scope Guides and a range of small projects. The remainder of projects to be funded through the appeal will be announced shortly.
For more information about the programme visit www.lingendavies.co.uk/getactivefeelgood
