Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category
Summer Term
Hope everyone has had a great summer break and kept active! We’re really looking forward to seeing everyone as we start back to class with new routines and music.
All classes start Saturday 4th September. Please note the one exception to that is Monday 9.30am HeartFit class, which will start the following week 13th Sept. Look forward to seeing you.
Race for Life, 11th July 2010
Well done and thank you to all who took part in today’s Race for Life, Fairlands Park, Stevenage. It was a really great day with everyone from Family Fitness completing the race despite the hot conditions! One of our Tuesday Heartfit ladies, Anna, managed the race in 24mins, coming in the top 10 out of the 2,700 ladies taking part, with Miranda and Emma coming close behind her. It was great to be part of the Family Fitness group at this worthwhile event. Well done to all involved, and a big thanks to Ruth for organising it.
25th Celebration
Thanks to all who came along to the 25th Celebration drinks last week at the Windmill in Charlton! It was a lovely evening, with great food, and live music played by Middle8, a female musical duo who performed a wide range of songs.
Our next group event will be the ‘Race for Life’ in Stevenage on Sunday 11th July. If you are not taking part in the race it would be great if you wanted to come along and support.
(click on photo to view further images)
Breakthrough Breast Cancer Reception at No.10
Jen Leathers, one of our HeartFit regulars, was recently invited to No. 10 Downing Street to attend a reception hosted by Sarah Brown. The reception was to celebrate the progress of the ‘Breakthrough Generations Study’. 110,000 women across the UK took part in the study, including a number of our Family Fitness members, and Jen was fortunate to be one of the 100 women invited to attend the function.
All those taking part in the study donated blood samples, and completed an in-depth questionnaire about their health, and the history of their family’s health. Scientists and researchers analysed and compared data of the women who have had breast cancer against similarly matched women who have not had the disease. These findings enabled the identification of a breast cancer gene. They are also helping in the development of new drugs to treat different types of breast cancer without the usual side effects of chemotherapy.
The study is planned to continue for the next 40 years, and the Breakthrough Research Team will work on prevention, treatment and hopefully the eventual eradication of the disease. £19.5 million is needed each year to fund the study.
During the evening scientists, researchers, fundraisers, admin staff along with Sarah Brown, mingled with the participants, and answered questions. The director of the Research Centre expressed his gratitude to everyone who had participated in the study, and outlined the mission for the future. Jen said it was a memorable evening and an opportunity to find out what is behind the iconic door in Downing Street.
Walking…are you doing enough?!
Health experts recommend walking around 10,000 steps a day for cardiovascular health. Walking 10,000 steps is the approximate equivalent of walking 5 miles. The distance covered depends on the length of your stride.
There are many ways to increase your daily steps:
Take a walk with a friend
Walk the dog
Use the stairs instead of the lift
Walk to work/shops
Get up to change the channel
A typical Family Fitness HeartFit aerobics class covers approximately 5,000 steps, helping you halfway to the recommended 10,000 a day!
If you would like to track your steps each day, wearing a pedometer is a good way to measure it. Please let one of our instructors know if you would like any help getting an easy to use pedometer.
You might be surprised how many (or how few) steps you get in each day!