Post: NELFT Sports Day 2016

NELFT Sports Day 2016

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On Wednesday 13th July Chris Deighton and Lee Howe from Bedrock Hospital Radio attended the Jane Atkinson Sports and Wellbeing Day arranged by NELFT (North East London Foundation Trust) in the grounds of Goodmayes Hospital.

The event has been run by the Trust every summer for the last 12 years and is now named after the former Chair of the Trust Jane Atkinson who sadly passed away in 2013 after fighting Leukaemia. Jane was a passionate organiser of these Sports and Wellbeing Days right up until she died as well as a visionary mental health, housing and social justice campaigner.

The event was attended by staff, patients, former patients and their carers and was opened with a speech by Chief Executive John Brouder, John invited guests to take part in a whole host of events that were put on to promote fitness and wellbeing including a rounder’s competition, tug of war, inflatable basketball and five a side football. Guests were also invited to take part in taster sessions for Yoga, Pilates, Aerobics and Tai Chi. There were also a number of stalls where guests could speak to staff and professionals about different aspects of health and wellbeing.

The day finished with a prize giving ceremony and a talk about motivation, determination and mental health by special guest Hussain Manawer who hopes to become the first British Muslim in space. Chris and Lee met with him after the event and hope to invite him to speak on the station in the future.

Chris and Lee kept everyone entertained by playing music over the PA system and making the announcements and in particularly playing music from the 1940s to set the atmosphere for the refreshments stall which was set up in the style of an old fashioned tea room serving tea and coffee in china cups and serving cakes.

Further information about the Jane Atkinson Sports and Wellbeing Days may be found on the NELFT website at:
http://www.nelft.nhs.uk/news-events/news20160519janeatkinsonsportswellbeingday-2168


An obituary to Jane Atkinson may be found at:
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2016/apr/10/jane-atkinson-obituary