Fun for all the family at our Community Fun Day

Last Saturday, we held our Community Fun Day: a day for all the family in Cannon Hill Park.

And what a lovely day it was! The weather was great (especially compared to the last time we held the Fun Run) and the extra activities meant that everyone could join in, whatever their age or ability.

The main event was our regular Fun Run (or “fun walk”, for those who preferred it), a 5K circuit around the park.

Glenn, one of our Health Trainers, led the warm-up, which included stretching exercises and tips, and then everyone set off around the circuit, which is the same one used by the Cannon Hill Parkrun.

As well as the 5K challenge, we held lots of activities for the children, including egg-and-spoon and sack races, face painting and storytelling.

Adults, too, found the Community Fun Day a good opportunity to get out and socialise in the sunshine.

There were healthy snacks available for people to have as a picnic, and some more games for the big kids amongst us. How many people can say they made new friends over a game of giant Connect 4?!

Staff members who volunteered on the day included Caroline, who said, “this was the first time I’d been to a Gateway Fun Day and it was great! There was a real sense of community as so many staff and clients brought their families along.

“Overall it was a good way to make physical activity more fun. Especially for those who had been working up to doing the 5K – there was a real sense of achievement.”

Mary’s story

Mary came along to the Community Fun Day after hearing about it through the Gateway Pre-Diabetes group that she’s been attending for the last few weeks.

Before starting Pre-Diabetes course, Mary did no exercise at all and her diet included lots of sugary snacks.

However, after hearing about the Fun Day, she decided to use the 5km walk as something to aim for, and started building up to it with short walks near her home. By week three of the Pre-Diabetes course, she was walking short distances on a regular basis and swimming twice a week.

On Saturday, Mary completed the walk with no problems at all. Because she’d started walking regularly anyway, she found the Cannon Hill Park course a doddle.

And thanks to the walking bug, and a healthier diet, she’s started to lose weight too. She’s been telling everyone at the Pre-Diabetes group how great she feels, and we’re confident Mary’s blood sugar levels will have dropped by the time she is tested again in September. Well done Mary!