Submitted on
Monday 20 June 2011
by
Jackie Newing
Yoodo Sports is a brand new initiative encouraging disabled people or people with a long term health condition (diabetes, heart disease etc), to get active.
It works by linking them with a volunteer buddies for company, encouragement and motivation. The benefits of sport and physical activity have been proven time and again in study after study. Yet disabled people are less likely to engage in regular exercise than non-disabled people, despite having similar needs to promote their health and prevent unnecessary disease.
In research carried out by Leonard Cheshire Disability in 2009, feeling awkward, and wanting company for encouragement and motivation, were cited as one of the largest barriers to getting active for disabled people. Yoodo Sports is specifically designed to address these issues. Benefits of getting more active to disabled people, and those with long term health conditions, include: Reduced risk of dying of coronary heart disease, colon cancer, and diabetes Improved stamina and muscle strength for people with chronic disabling conditions; Reduced symptoms of anxiety and depression, improved mood and general feelings of well being. Overall, regular physical activity is seen to have a positive influence on all measures of independence, activities of daily living and quality of life.
Yoodo Sports is open to disabled people and to disabled or non-disabled volunteer buddies who want to get more active, have fun and improve their health. Find out more by visiting www.yoodosports.com.
Upcoming events include:
The Bradford Disability Sport Charity Ride on 24th June 2011 and The TriTogether Leonard Cheshire Disability Triathlon on 11th September in Crystal Palace. For more information please use the following links:
http://yoodosports.com/events-2/?event_id=35
http://yoodosports.com/events-2/?event_id=38