Resounding success of Fit Forces project has Everton in the Community to thank as part of it's creation
30 August 2023This evenings visitors Everton FC have a s similar standing in their community, through Everton in the Community. Their community team were the organisation that staff from Club Doncaster Foundation visited prior to the launch of Doncaster’s Fit Forces project.
Fit Forces was launched in June 2022 and is a weekly session aimed at ex-military personnel. The sessions are held in Foundation Fitness from 9am till 11am every Saturday and they are a chance for our participants to be with likeminded people with similar experiences to themselves. The sessions aim to provide a safe space for them to feel at ease to access exercise and socialise with group members.
Sessions take place on a Saturday and include circuits, walk and talk sessions, NAAFI breaks and quizzes. Over the last year we have seen our Fit Forces take part in the Yorkshire 3 Peaks, a weekend away camping and also the DRFC remembrance day fixture.
Theresa Hodgson, a member of the armed forces community, works to support local armed forces and has been moved so much by the veterans attending our provision that she is embarking on a fundraising challenge of her own to support the project.
Teresa commented: "I have been really moved by the conversations that I have had with veterans who attend the Fit Forces program. Some say that they were lonely and isolated, some say it has saved their lives, some say it’s the one thing that they look forward to being amongst likeminded people sharing military banter.
"We cannot ever underestimate the power of having a 'sense of belonging'. There is no doubt in my mind that their mental and physical wellbeing has significantly improved and they have found new friends because of the Fit Forces.
"Our military community give so much to us and we don’t even realise how much they give.”
Teresa is running a half marathon around Doncaster on Saturday 23rd September and will be joined by members of the Armed Forces Covenant Board who will be giving their time to run with her. If that wasn’t enough, on the 2nd October Teresa will be hiking up the UKs highest Peak - Ben Nevis.
If you would like to support Teresa on our challenge, you can do so here:
Best of luck to Teresa and a thank you to this evening’s visitors who were there to support us when we were setting up this vital programme.
