Citylife in Lichfield September 2020

City of
Lichfield
Probus
Club
By Peter Hitchman
..................
We were looking forwad to reconvening
The City of
Lichfield Probus Club, Men’s
and Ladies, with an informal social get
together, but having visited Rob at the
Club it became clear that the
restrictions of being two metres apart
and socially distancing meant we would
not be able to socialise. We will look to
hopefully re-arrange this in the autumn.
In the meantime, take care and stay safe.
September Birthday greetings to:
Annette Phillips (3rd), John Thurston
(5th) , Anne Wainwright (17th), Brenda
Craddock (18th) and Rene Patterson
(25th).
Exercising ‘Oldies’
Raise £2,000 for
Charity
..................
When lockdown hit in March a group of over 60s, who
meet regularly in local community halls, set about
staying fit, despite the fact they were no longer able to
exercise together. Veteran fitness instructor, Mary Morris, decided
to set her members a fitness challenge. Every week they were
expected to walk in excess of 30 minutes on five days of the week
and then to take hold of their handweights and do a strength
programme 3-4 times a week. The strength session came to them
every week via a video lasting just 10 minutes. A total of 72
members took up the challenge and many of them exceeded it by
doing 'walking and workouts' every single day!
Mary says: “I work with the most vulnerable groups with regard to
Covid-19 as they are all over 60, with many of them in their 70s and even
80s. It was absolutely vital that they did not just become couch potatoes!
Setting the challenge gave them a real focus as they were expected to
report in either daily or weekly to say they had completed the task.”
Stars were awarded for every walk or workout and Mary kept a
28
Greyhound Trust Hall Green
By Lauren Hirst
.............................................
Covid-19 has made us all re-evaluate our lives in so many
ways. Nationally, dog homing charities have reported a
huge increase in enquiries to adopt dogs now that people
are at home more, not holidaying aboard, and going out for
walks. Greyhound Trust Hall Green is no exception. Fortunately,
people have realised that retired greyhounds make excellent
pets with their gentle ways and not needing as much exercise as
one would expect - two 30-minute walks a day will do, though
most will enjoy longer walks too - they are called 35-miles per
hour couch potatoes after all!
So far this year we have homed over 100 greyhounds and we're
only half way through! If you are interested in adopting a hound,
please give us a ring on 0121 426 4810 and we are happy to have a chat about whether it is actually
the right time to adopt or whether work commitments will change in future.
As people are starting to return to work adoption may not be possible however much they thought
it might be. Hall Green's sponsor scheme might just be the thing instead. We have five sponsor
hounds, all of whom have some sort of additional need and to help them find a forever home, the
Trust helps with cost of looking after the dog. Sponsoring also is a great gift (if you're thinking about
Christmas already) for an animal lover in your life. For just £3 per month you will receive a welcome
letter and pack, Christmas and Valentine's cards, and a summer update from your chosen hound.
Because all the dogs live locally you could even arrange to come and meet your hound and his/her
carer.
Frazer, pictured here, doing his best bumble bee impression, lives in Tamworth with a family with
three children. Frazer had a series of strokes and we almost lost him but with the love and care of
his foster carers he was nursed back to health. Of course, they couldn't part with him and have now
adopted him but the Trust meets any ongoing health needs with help from his sponsors. To meet all
our sponsor hounds, visit our website and download a form at
www.greyhoundtrusthallgreen.org.uk/sponsor-a-greyhound.
running total to
increase their
motivation. Once the
stars started to add up
in great numbers Mary
thought there was an
opportunity here to
raise money for the
group's favourite
charity, St Giles. Every
star awarded earned
20p for the charity and
this had a positive
impact on the group's
motivation.
An amazing total of
£2000 was raised
demonstrating just how
much physical activity
was undertaken. It
equates to 10,000
walks and workouts!
Beth Richardson from St Giles with Jenny
Chesher, Lesley Cooke, Sally Dillon, Suzanne
Groom, Mary Morris and Jean Riggott.
“I am so proud of what my group has achieved,” enthuses Mary. “Not
only are they as fit, or maybe even fitter, than they were before lockdown
but it has kept us going as a group, helping our mental fitness as well.”
Small 'bubbles' of six people are now meeting to exercise twice a week
in Beacon Park as they try to return to a 'new normal' and as soon as
possible they will be back to their favourite sessions in the community
halls.