“I didn’t really know what to expect when I went along, but everyone is very friendly and the exercise isn’t too demanding
An 80-year-old from Leicester has shown it is never too late to start exercising after taking part in a series of Walking Cricket sessions.
Shirish Modi, who has type 2 diabetes, found out about the activity and decided he would go along in a bid to improve his health.
He said: “I didn’t really know what to expect when I went along, but everyone is very friendly and the exercise isn’t too demanding. I’ve met lots of different people and I’m definitely feeling better in myself from being on the go for more than an hour every week.
“The sessions are led by fully qualified coaches by the Leicestershire County Cricket Club, so we’re playing a proper version of the game, but just at a slower pace.”
The Walking Cricket programme has been designed for people aged over 50 who are looking for a different approach to exercise in a bid to improve their lifestyle.
It is supported by the Leicester Changing Diabetes programme to get people more active, lose weight and drive down the number of type 2 diabetes figures in the area.
I didn’t really know what to expect when I went along, but everyone is very friendly and the exercise isn’t too demanding, player Shirish Modi
Sunny Rohit, Project Officer at the Centre for Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) Health, who is organising the cricket sessions, said: “The Walking Cricket sessions are proving to be hugely successful. We’ve found providing a slower paced, indoor format of the game, is going down a storm with the older generation, who thought that perhaps they were too old to start getting active.
“The programme is a great way for men and women of a certain age to socialise, while also increasing their exercise levels at a more relaxed speed. Shirish is a perfect example of how it’s never too late.”
The weekly sessions run every Friday from 10.30am to 12pm at the Leicester Arena on Charter Street and costs £2.50. Free parking on site is available.
Leicester Changing Diabetes is a partnership programme with Novo Nordisk and the Leicester Diabetes Centre based at Leicester General Hospital. The global initiative Cities Changing Diabetes was created by pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk andwas launched in response to the dramatic rise of diabetes within urban areas.
The Leicester Diabetes Centre – a partnership and collaboration between the Leicester’s Hospitals NHS Trust and theUniversity of Leicester –is an international Centre of Excellence in diabetes research, education and innovation and is led by Professor Melanie Davies CBE and Professor Kamlesh Khunti.
Professor Davies CBE, Director of the Leicester Diabetes Centre and Professor of Diabetes Medicine at the University of Leicester, said: “As part of the Leicester Changing Diabetes programme we are continually seeking new ways to introduce healthier lifestyles to people in a bid to drive down type 2 diabetes numbers, as we already know the condition is associated with poor diet and lack of activity.
“Encouraging people – of all ages – to exercise is extremely important, which is why we are proud to support and promote the Walking Cricket initiative as we firmly believe we need to help empower people, so they can start to take better care of their health.”
