Category: Living With Cancer Strollers

 

Why does a walking report have a picture of smiling people sitting in a cafe, sipping coffee and eating cake, to accompany it?

The answer is straightforward: the chat and the coffee (other beverages are available!), are an important and integral part of any Cosmeston stroll. On this spring walk, Betty and Helen found themselves leading the walk. When Lynne caught them up and asked them to guide the group back to the cafe, they replied that they were too busy talking to know how to get back!

The good news is that we did get back. Two Canadian visitors joined the walk and thought Cosmeston Lake was as impressive as any lakes they have seen in Canada. I think they were being generous in their praise, but Cosmeston certainly is an attractive place at this time of the year.

If you would like to share in the beauty of a short stroll around Cosmeston and enjoy a chat during the walk and afterwards in the cafe, then we will meet you at 10:30 on the first Thursday of every month outside the information centre

 

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Psychotherapist Noel McDermott has said there are some simple steps to improving your mental well being. They include

Getting enough sleep

Meditation

Doing housework

Gardening

Ignoring your phone

Getting a pet

Smiling

Getting more friends

Exercise

Going outside

While it may not be possible to alter your body clock to get more sleep, the living with cancer strollers can help you smile more, get exercise outside and meet more friends!

February’s stroll around Cosmeston certainly made us smile as the sun shone, then showers nearly caught us and mud pools were avoided. We took a new route to take in the new bridge and couldn’t resist a photo. No troubled waters in Cosmeston!

If you prefer a leisurely walk in good company rather than improving your well being by hoovering, or tidying the garden…..then join us at Cosmeston on the first Thursday of every month at 10:30.

 

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There was a great turnout for the first strollers meeting of 2019. Two year olds mixed with “slightly” more elderly walkers as all sought to walk off the Christmas excesses. Christmas bobble hat gifts were in abundance, but all agreed that Pam’s bobble outdid the rest! The walk circumnavigated the entire park and was the longest the group had attempted. But with plenty of opportunities to admire the scenery, rest and chat, the walkers easily completed the challenge.

A recent article in the i newspaper celebrated the walking achievements of an octogenarian from Edinburgh. Jim Snodgrass was prescribed regular walks by his doctor to improve his health. He had a series of serious health problems including cancer, hearing loss and a heart by pass, but after taking his doctor’s advice to walk, he racked up more than 1000 miles in less than a year! He said, ” one friend told me that I am the only person she knows who gets younger every year.”

So….the living with cancer strollers group can’t promise you an everlasting youthful appearance, or a 1000 mile count on your step watch, but it can offer a friendly walk with a sociable group in a wonderful lakeside location.

Make it your 2019 resolution to join us for a stroll, on the first Thursday of the month at 10:30, at Cosmeston Information Centre.

 

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The living with cancer strollers had an unusual and unprecedented experience on their final walk of 2018. The walkers got wet! Since its inauguration the walkers have been fortunate every month to walk in dry, sunny conditions. The weather did not dampen our enthusiasm, although our Christmas hats wilted in the drizzle!

After a long stroll through the trees the walkers were treated to a wonderful Christmas lunch at the lakeside cafe. Crackers pulled, jokes told, turkey eaten, the group disbanded until January’s walk. If you want to join a sociable, friendly group for a short stroll, meet at the Cosmeston Information Centre the first Thursday of every month at 10:30

 

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GPs are going to be encouraged to refer people for activities including dancing, cooking and walking groups. GPs will be able to refer people to these and other, social activities, Theresa May has announced. Instead of prescribing pills and medicine, doctors will be encouraged to use “social prescribing”. In this way, Mrs May believes there will be reduced demand on the NHS and an improvement in people’s quality of life.

The good news is that there is no need to have a prescription from your GP to join the Living with Cancer Strollers. If you would like a sociable short stroll, in lovely surroundings with an amicable group of people then just turn up at the Cosmeston Information Centre on the first Thursday of every month at 10:30am. November’s walk circumnavigated the perimeter of the park and we all appreciated the Autumn leaves which were bathed in sunshine.

December’s walk will have a Christmas theme and Santa hats are an essential item of clothing, alongside the walking boots of course!! I hope you can join us.

 

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And the sun shone again on the living with cancer strollers on their September walk around Cosmeston. A new route included small inclines, woods, open fields, lakes and friendly canines, intent on joining us! The views were wonderful. We could even see Wenvoe from one vantage point.

As important as the walking, was the talking and the coffee in the cafe afterwards. It was lovely to see everyone chatting, joking and just having a good time.

Another new walker joined the group in September and was welcomed by everyone. We missed Tess who has been on every walk since its inauguration last year. She was doing some tough walks in the peak district, so should be able to run around Cosmeston on October's walk!

If you want to join a friendly group for a gentle stroll, we will be outside the information centre at Cosmeston on the first Thursday in October at 10am.

 

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