Fun and Fitness at Queen Elizabeth’s Foundation Development Centre.

To highlight the importance of diet, exercise and general well being, a Healthy Living Day was held at Queen Elizabeth’s Foundation Development Centre, Oaklawn Road, Leatherhead on Friday, 28 th September.

Eating a balanced, healthy diet and maintaining a regular exercise programme is something we should all strive to achieve but for some of us, this demands a greater level of effort and enthusiasm.

Young adults attending the Development Centre have complex disabilities such as cerebral palsy and spina bifida limiting mobility and flexibility. Everyday tasks, such as cooking a simple meal, can be extremely challenging and time consuming making it all too easy and attractive to succumb to snacking or grabbing a fast-food option. And exercise is not as simple as jumping on a treadmill but having programmes individually designed to target specific areas of muscle weakness.

Hilary Clarke, Trainee Health Psychologist at the Development Centre, decided to arrange this special day so that clients could have the opportunity to think about and discuss all aspects of health.

With a great deal of fun in mind, the morning saw clients take it in turn to make healthy fruit smoothies, join an exercise class and try their luck at a specially designed question and answer game before sitting down to a healthy, calorie counted lunch.

In the afternoon, an exhibition was held when Foundation staff were joined by professionals promoting and providing information on a wide variety of issues including complementary therapies such as massage and aromatherapy, breast and testicular cancer awareness and sexual health matters.

Fun and Fitness at Queen Elizabeth’s Foundation Development Centre …

Commenting on the day, Hilary said: “Staff all pulled together to make the day enjoyable and a tremendous success. We hope it enabled our clients to gain a greater understanding about the healthy living options available to them. On behalf of everyone at the Development Centre, I would also like to say a huge thank you to Waitrose and to Tesco for their generous donations in support of the event. "

For further information, please contact Caroline Barratt, Public Relations Officer, Queen Elizabeth’s Foundation, Leatherhead Court, Woodlands Road, Leatherhead, Surrey KT22 0BN. Email: caroline.barratt@qef.org.uk Tel: 01372 841129. Registered Charity No. 251051.