Rovers Rehabilitation launch a success!
Blackburn Rovers Community Trust recorded impressive numbers of participants for the taster day for our brand new 12-week Rovers Rehabilitation Walking Football programme.
Rovers Rehabilitation Walking Football aims to tackle Parkinson’s and other neurological conditions using the power of football, supported by Mind2Muscle and DES Group.
DES Group kindly donated £1,000 towards the programme, courtesy of Trust Patron Barry Gavahan. The programme is close to the DES Group heart, with his colleague Chris in attendance as a participant.
“My friend and colleague Chris Lambert, was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, something which is very close to Chris’ heart, mine and my colleagues at DES.
I play a lot of walking football and I was approached by Chris to see if we could set up a session in the local area with friends, colleagues and people from the Walking Football Association to launch the programme.
The programme will help reduce anxiety and depression, strengthen muscles, joints, and bones. It will also help their overall quality of life.”
Barry Gavahan
Blackburn Rovers club legend Tony Parkes, an ambassador for the programme, and Stuart Langworthy, manager of the England Over 60s walking football team, were also present.
“It is brilliant to see Blackburn Rovers Community Trust running this programme. The numbers and the support have been quite unbelievable. I have never seen so many people at a first session, it is brilliant!
It’s not just about people with Parkinson’s, it’s other impalements as well and the idea is walking football is perfect for them. The Indoor Centre facility is fantastic, to have a cup of tea and a chat afterwards is almost as important as the football itself.”
Stuart Langworthy, manager of the England over 60s
“Tony is such an icon at Blackburn Rovers so it was great to see people pleased to see him. The more people who find out about this programme, the better and Tony was delighted to come along and show his support.”
Janet, Tony Parkes’ carer
