A grant from Sutton Coldfield Charitable Trust has helped get a groundbreaking new football club in the Royal Town up and running – or should that be up and walking?
Image: The ‘Cancer Kickers’ are the new ‘Walking Football’ scheme being run by Boldmere Falcons Football Club.
Calling themselves the ‘Cancer Kickers’, the new ‘Walking Football’ scheme being run by Boldmere Falcons Football Club is already attracting plenty of players.
Offering a relaxed, non-competitive version of the sport, the group aims to help cancer patients, survivors and carers stay active, boost their mental health and socialise with others in the same boat.
Players will also be able to receive tailored support from a cancer rehab exercise practitioner during sessions, which are also supported by Birmingham FA.
These free sessions take place on Tuesdays from 12:30pm to 2:30pm at Boldmere Sports & Social and are open to anyone at any stage of their cancer journey, or supporting a loved one affected by the disease.
A grant of £9,296 from SCCT has helped the club kick off its activities.
Richard Cotterill, Club Secretary at Boldmere Falcons, said: “Walking football is a great leveller for anybody of any age, ability and level of health issue.
“The beauty of it is that you can’t run, so everybody is playing at the same pace, but you still get the camaraderie of football as we used to know it. It gives people a great chance to boost their fitness while they’re facing health challenges.
“The funding we’ve had from Sutton Coldfield Charitable Trust has allowed us to set up this walking football group. It’s allowed us to buy new equipment and pay for some expertise. Without the funding, we wouldn’t have been able to get this thing off the ground, so we’re very grateful.”
Mark Foster, Cancer Rehab Instructor, said: “This is perfect for people who’ve been through cancer treatment because it’s very low intensity, and we don’t take it too seriously or make it too competitive.
“We run through a bunch of mobility exercises and stretches so everything’s done completely safely.
“A really important part of our group is afterwards we have a group social session, where we go and have a hot drink and some biscuits, and you’re with people who have been through the same experiences.
“It’s a safe space to talk if you want to. We’ve become like a team – that part is so important for people.”
Clare Haines, Grants Manager at SCCT, said: “This is a fantastic idea that is already proving very popular, just weeks after it was launched.
“The Trust’s core aims include the advancement of health and opportunities for participation in amateur sport, and the Boldmere Kickers fulfil both of those goals in a way that is clearly resonating with residents.
“With the World Cup going on now, we are delighted to be supporting a football project that is already proving to be a game changer for local people.”
Maximus Court, from Birmingham FA, added: “Walking football is a great way to socialise and keep fit.
“What they’ve created at Boldmere Falcons is something really special – an opportunity for people to come together and play football, especially when they’re going through a dark period of their lives.
“It brings the community together and shows football can overcome mental health problems.”
For more information, please contact Richard Cotterill on 07840 059348 or email ckbwfc@gmail.com.
